About 4kms from the whitewashed town of Moulay Idriss you will find Volubilis. The name "Volubilis" translates to "morning glory" in Latin, reflecting the lush flowering plants that once grew abundantly in the area.

The Archaeological Site of Volubilis was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997. Even though this wonderful site has been looted for granite and marble to build structures in the nearby towns (remember Meknes?), the remaining structures and mosaics tell the tale of a city that once thrived. The ruins that have been spared are beautifully preserved relics of the Roman era and it is for its historical value that Volubilis was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I highly recommend the use of one of the official guides as they can explain the history of Volubilis and its significance to Moroccans today as well as provide invaluable insights and help interpret what you are seeing.

According to our guide, it is believed that this spectacular city was constructed around 40 AD and was built on an old settlement that dated back to the third century. It became the administrative capital of the area and was known as Mauretania. The extremely fertile lands that surrounded the city produced olive oils and grains that were exported to Rome. It is also known that after the Romans withdrew from Morocco - which happened around the end of the third century - the city was not left uninhabited. An earthquake in the fourth century is believed to have caused extensive damage to Volubilis, but documents have revealed the arrival of Idris I in the year 788. Another earthquake rocked the site in 1755, possibly causing its final abandonment. In the eighteenth century, builders started to loot the ruins for building materials.

French archaeologists started excavating the site in 1915 and more than 2,000 excavations by numerous institutions have followed. Today you can view;
Temple of Jupiter AKA Capitoline Temple: Dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. You can climb the 13 steps to the massive Corinthian columns
The Capitol, dedicated to the Triad of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, dates back to AD 218.

Triumphal Arch from the third century. The marble Triumphal Arch was built in 217 in honour of Emperor Caracalla and his mother, Julia Domna. The arch spans the main street and marks the point where the Romans began to expand the city to the northeast. It was once decorated with figures of the four seasons and had an image at the top of the emperor in a gilded chariot with six horses.

The House of Orpheus - the finest and largest home, containing a mosaic of Orpheus charming animals by playing the lute, a dolphin mosaic in the dining room, and Poseidon, the Roman god of the sea.

House of the Acrobat, depicts an athlete being presented with a trophy for winning a desultory race, a competition in which the rider had to dismount and jump back on his horse as it raced along.

Baths. Some mosaics can still be seen in the Baths of Gallienus, redecorated by that emperor in the 260s to become the city's most lavish baths.

House of the Ephebus contains a now-incomplete mosaic of Bacchus in a chariot drawn by panthers.

House of the Dog, famed not for its mosaics but a lonesome rock plinth with a giant phallus carved into the top of it - this establishment was once a brothel for weary warriors who would stop off here after making it back to the triumphal arch after battle.

House of the Columns is so named because of the columns arranged in a circle around the interior court - note their differing styles, which include spirals.

The Basilica. What remains of the basilica are a series of arches and columns where several storks have built their nests.

Most of the structures are still in impressive condition and the mosaics are as beautiful as the day they were created. This wonderfully preserved site is well worth a visit as it provides a rare glimpse into the past.