Travel Guide Dougga

At 40 kilometers from Testour. The situation of Dougga, in the middle of nature on the hills of Téboursouk, makes it the most beautiful Roman site of the country: capitol, theater, thermal baths, etc. The detour, an hour and a half from Tunis, is recommended. It is a pity that the environment does not emphasize the site, there is indeed both little interest and possibility to stay here.The foundation of this city whose primitive name is Thugga, dates back to the 6th century BC. The city was Punic before being placed under the authority of the Numidian kings Masinissa and then Micipsa, allies of Pompey, who joined it to Afriqya.Diodorus of Sicily presents it as " a city of beautiful grandeur ". The presence of man and urbanization on this site is early and consistent. The presence of a necropolis with dolmens, a sanctuary, Neopunic votive steles, a mausoleum and a temple attest to this.The temple, erected in 139 BC, was more than 14 meters long and 6 meters wide. It shows that the forum area was urbanized before the arrival of the Roman settlers. The mausoleum is located in an urban necropolis. But the recent excavations upset the chronology of the walls which surround Dougga, the appellation "Numidian walls" is disputed since a portion dates from late antiquity. The rest of the story is still to be written here! Notice to the amateurs...