On our last day in Morocco, we explored the Roman ruins of Volubilis, believed to be the capital of Mauritania.
We had rain but also some sunshine. We took a good two hours, the area is really interesting and very, very big.
The city was built on a fertile area 3 centuries BC. It covers an area of 42 hectares. Under the Romans, the city had a basilica, a triumphal arch and a temple. As olive oil production flourished, many wealthy people settled here and built their villas full of mosaics. Vasco was fascinated by the mosaics. In the 18th century, a large part of the city was destroyed by an earthquake. In the 19th century, when Morocco was under the French, they restored and excavated many mosaics. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered the best-preserved Roman city on the outskirts. It is probably because of this location on the outskirts of the Roman Empire that it did not develop further.
The city had an aqueduct and water was used to supply many private and public baths. We walked to the main gate with three arches and past numerous oil presses/mills. So far, 58 presses have been discovered.
We were really, really, really hoping for history. We like these historical tours. It was really nice to see something more familiar to us and completely different from Moroccan Islamic architecture.
We had really cold and rainy weather in the afternoon. We spent the night in the town of Moulay Idris, where we bought some dates, almonds and mandolatov . And we enjoyed spicy but very very tasty meat skewers in a bun for the last time on the street. The next morning we drove to the airport and then back home. Upon arriving in Treviso, Urban's first question was: "Mom, are we going to our hotel?". Yes peel, another bot.