Tunis, Tunisia
Archaeological site in Tunisia
Uthina, today Oudna, is an archaeological site about thirty kilometres south of Tunis in Ben Arous governorate, on a plateau above the left bank of the Miliane river and its fertile plain. The town probably predates the Romans, going back to the indigenous Amazigh and linked with Punic Carthage; under Augustus it became a colony of veterans of the Legio XIII Gemina, given the surrounding land to farm, and it is mentioned by Ptolemy and Pliny the Elder. The ruins spread over a large area, nearly five kilometres around: a fortress, huge cisterns, an aqueduct, a triumphal arch, a theatre, baths, a basilica with a circular crypt, a bridge and grand houses. The highlight is the amphitheatre on the north side of the town, half cut into the hill, much of it restored and sometimes used for performances. Many fine mosaics were found in Uthina's houses, some now in the Bardo Museum. The site is quiet and little visited, a different experience from busy Carthage, with open views over the Tunisian countryside.
You need a car or taxi from Tunis, about forty minutes each way. Allow two hours to explore. There is little shade, so bring water and a hat; spring and autumn are best. Pair it with Uthina's mosaics at the Bardo Museum to see what once decorated its houses.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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MosqueTunis, Tunisia
