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- 16 Things to Do and See in Fes – Morocco’s Ancient City
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- Volubilis – Morocco’s Ancient Roman City
- A Trip to the Sahara Desert in Morocco
- Morocco 2.0 – Sometimes a Place Deserves a Second Chance
- Chefchaouen – Morocco’s Blue Pearl
- My Experience in Fes – The “Real” Morocco
- 20 Things to Do and See in Marrakesh
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The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Volubilis is a partially excavated ancient Roman city that was built in the 3rd century BC. Volubilis was the ancient capital of the Roman-Berber kingdom of Mauretania and in its time it was an affluent 42 hectare walled city of around 20,000 people. Now, the ancient city is the best-preserved archaeological site in Morocco.
From Meknes, my new friends and I arrived at Volubilis right before sunset, at the golden hour, which ended up being the most perfect time to go. It was stunning.
The Arch of Caracalla – one of the ancient city’s most distinctive sights, located at the end of the city’s main street.
Volubilis was built in a fertile agricultural area and it prospered from local olive oil production, which is still an important export in the region today.
The ancient city is known for its mosaic floors, which could be found in the houses of the affluent.
No one lives in Volubilis now, except for a few storks who like to engineer their nests at the top of the columns
NEED TO KNOW
Entrance to Volubilis costs 20 Dirhams (about $2US), without a guide.
There are local guides waiting for you at the entrance, who you can hire to show you around and give you information about the ruins. You don’t need a guide if you’re happy wandering around on your own, but they do know a lot about the site and they do speak English. There aren’t many information boards or signs in the ruins.
On a hot summer day, the sun is very strong, so be prepared with sunscreen, a hat and water. It’s a good idea to go early in the morning or later in the day, as there is no shade. I visited in mid-October close to sunset so temperatures were warm and there was next to no one there.
Volubilis can be combined with the nearby town of Moulay Idriss as a day trip from Meknès, or even a day trip from Fes, with a stop in Meknes as well.
GET IN
- Moulay Idriss – 5 km
- Meknes – 33 km
- Fes – 90km
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TRAVELING MOROCCO
What to Know Before You Go to Morocco
What To Know Before You Go to North Africa And The Middle East
16 Fun Things To Do in Tangier
Chefchaouen – Morocco’s Blue Pearl
20 Things to Do and See in Marrakesh
Akchour Waterfall – Morocco’s Lost Paradise
16 Things to See and Do in Fes – Morocco’s Ancient City
Essaouira – Morocco’s Surf and Art Town
These photos are amazing, thanks so much for sharing these I don’t know how I would have found out about this place otherwise
Thanks! 🙂