Djemila

About

The Romans founded Djemila as a military garrison known as Cuicul in the 1st century AD, which flourished as a trade center until the fall of the Roman Empire. After a brief Byzantine resurgence, it was completely abandoned by the time of the Arab invasion in the 6th century. Finding this ancient city built harmoniously into the hillside, it was the Arabs who named the site Djemila, meaning “beautiful one”. After visiting the museum (and do visit it), a walk down the main thoroughfare shows why Djemila is one of the best Roman archaeological sites in North Africa. There’s a theater, two fora, temples, and basilicas, arches, streets, and houses. And at the large forum of the Harsh, each entry is marked by a majestic arch. But the real highlight is how Djemila melds perfectly into the countryside, so be sure to walk to the top of the hill for a panoramic view of the site.