Volubilis and Meknes

Yesterday we took a field trip that was an optional add-on to the tour (at an additional cost). We visited the Roman ruins of Volubilis, and then we went to the former imperial capital of Meknes, of which we saw very little.

Here is my photo album from the day.

Volubilis

I had no idea that there were Roman ruins in Morocco. Volubilis was quite a large city for a provincial Roman settlement, with about 20,000 inhabitants at its peak in the late 2nd century CE.

This is a short post, because I can’t really say much about Volubilis off the top of my head. We had an excellent local guide who explained what we were seeing and peppered his commentary with a lot of humor, but I’ll direct you to Wikipedia if you want more detailed history.

Quick historical overview

In one paragraph, I’ll sum it up: the Romans established the city of Volubilis around 25 BCE. It grew rapidly in the first two centuries CE. Local tribes took control around 285 CE, and the Romans never bothered to recapture it. Christians and, later, Arabs and Berbers occupied the city for seven ceturies, but was abandoned around the 11th century. Most of the structures of the city remained intact until a 1755 earthquake and subsequent looting by Moroccan rulers building the city of Meknes. In the late 19th century the site was identified as the ancient city of Volubilis. Excavation, restoration, and reconstruction took place under French rule. In 1997 UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site.

Photos

There are some impressive mosaics as well as the ruins of houses, a triumphal arch, and other structures. It reminded me of my visit last year to Ostia Antica, outside Rome.

Meknes

I can’t say much about Meknes either. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but from our quick visit, I couldn’t say why. We saw an impressive gate and a lot of walls that looked brand new because they are newly restored. We also walked through a large square and visited the National Museum of Music, but I would have liked to have a lot more time there.

I’m glad I went on this outing, as the ruins of Volubilis were impressive, but I can’t say the same about Meknes. I feel like there was so much more to see there, and our local guide did little to bring any of it to life.