The mosaics of Volubilis

The World Heritage site of Volubilis with its amazing Roman ruins is only 33 k or so from Meknes, but it is like stepping into another reality. The enormity of the place's history is quite overwhelming.

The detail in the mosaics is exquisite.

Roman building probably commenced on the site about 40 AD but before that the Carthaginians had been living there since the 3rd C BC. The Romans remained in Volubilis right through until about 280 AD, using the fertile plains as a breadbasket for Rome. After that time the city was occupied by Jews, Berbers, Greeks and Syrians who continued to speak Latin!

Some of the twelve labours of Hercules.
Hercules

No matter how jaded you might be by countless visits to ruins, it is the mosaics here which are the star attraction.

If you intend to visit, try and arrive before the tour buses and bring a hat and sunscreen as the place can be like a fan-forced oven in summer.