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Follow the Roman Ghosts of Volubilis
Published by Cat London, Writer
Country: Morocco 
The Experience
Once the administrative centre of a Roman province called Mauretania Tingitana, Volubilis may have once been home to as many as 18,000 to 20,000 people, all of whom were exempt from Roman taxation because they were so far away from the centre of power. Traces of the city’s inhabitants can be found everywhere, from the remains of the bathhouse to the olive presses that look as though you could almost start them up. Visitors can wander through the forum and the basilica, where the only remaining signs of life are the roosting storks whose nests top the beautiful columns that still stretch toward the sky. The dramatic mosaics are the highlight of any visit: these depict a host of mythological characters and events, from the lovers Bacchus and Ariadne to the Labours of Hercules.
There are guides available at the site, or you can hire one in Fès or Meknès. Though it is easy to wander the site yourself and guess at what you might be looking at, a guide — particularly an official guide — can offer a great deal more depth and detail about the site and its features. Most guides speak reasonably good English and all are fluent in French. Getting to Volubilis is easily done by shared taxi from Fès or Meknès.
When to Go to Volubilis Morocco
The mosaics and ruins are being well cared for, but they are said to have been degraded by the interference of visitors over the past ten years, so it might be wise to visit soon.
Odds n' Ends
Places to Stay Nearby
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More Experiences Nearby
- Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca: The Largest Mosque in Morocco
- The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is literally built on the Atlantic Ocean, with more than half of the Mosque jutting out over the sea. A passage in the Koran states that God’s throne was built on the sea, and King Hassan II, the Mosque’s creator and namesake, made this an architectural requirement. Inaugurated in 1993, the King Hassan Mosque was completed in six years, a remarkable feat. Artisans and labourers worked around the clock, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to complete the masterpiece; and funds were raised from “donations” from the Moroccan people. The government ...124 miles away.
Books and DVDs
Elsewhere on the Web
- Archaeological Site of Volubilis (UNESCO)
- The Mauritanian capital, founded in the 3rd century B.C., became an important outpost of the Roman Empire and was graced with many fine buildings.
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Language Guides
French 
,
Spanish
are some of the languages spoken in Morocco. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
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