Dougga is one of Tunisia's most visited sites. There's a lot to see and there are guides available at the entrance. It is also full of surprises.
Also known as Thugga, this is the best preserved Roman small town in North Africa and gives an evocative introduction to everyday life in antiquity, more than 1800 years ago. The site was occupied by local people until the 1950's when they were asked to leave in order to preserve the ruins from further decay.
Getting to Dougga
Dougga is around 100 kilometres west of the capital, Tunis. There is public transport, but an interesting way is to use a louage. The word in French (which is widely spoken in Tunisia) means‘rental’ and refers to the shared taxis that travel between towns and cities. They have specific departure points which, in small towns are usually near the central bus station. Anyone will tell you where the louage stand is. You will have to wait until the car has a full quota of customers or until the driver thinks nobody else will turn up. Prices are fixed and cheap.
The Theatre and the Capitol
The first monument you come to is the Theatre - a truly dramatic introduction to the site. Built in 188AD, its nineteen tiers provided seating for an audience of 350 people. During the Dougga Summer Festival in July and August it makes a fantastic setting for floodlit performances of classical drama.
It sits on a hill, giving great views of the rolling landscape around it.
One of the most impressive remains is the Capitol - one of the finest Roman monuments in Tunisia. The inscription carved on the portico records that it was dedicated to the gods Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, each of whom had their own niche. Juno’s statue was enormous and sat in the middle. All that remains are fragments in the Bardo Museum in Tunis.
Much More to See in Dougga
There are at least eleven surviving temples at Dougga, including the Capitol, plus streets and houses with beautifully preserved mosaic floors. There’s a wonderful system of cisterns which provided the population of Dougga with regular fresh water. They are in such a perfect condition that they have been turned into storerooms.
Make Time to Explore
There is so much to see at Dougga. Try to give yourself plenty of time. A good plan is to wander around by yourself for a while before hiring a guide. You will be surprised at what you might come across. For instance, there’s an explicit stone carving of a proud penis pointing the way to the Roman temple of pleasure - the brothel. Close by is a 12-seater toilet, used by both woman and men. Very broad minded, those Romans.
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