ULPIA TRAIANA SARMIZEGETUSA

This city (not to be confused with the Dacian capital Sarmizegetusa Regia) was the main settlement in Roman Dacia, and was home to many institutions. Founded by Emperor Trajan shortly after the conquest of Dacia in 106 as Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa, it had a population of 20,000 to 30,000. Today, only the foundations of the citadel remain, allowing us to imagine its past grandeur and remarkable organization. You'll recognize the Augustan palace (whose courtyard hosted meetings of the Dacian High Council), the 5,000-seat amphitheater, the forum with its tall marble columns, villas and temples. The entire city has yet to be uncovered, and excavations are continuing. As is often the case, until the early ^19th century, the stones were used as building materials by local villagers.

Not far from the archaeological site, in the village of Sarmizegetusa, the museum is a useful complement to a visit to the remains. Here you'll find objects found during excavations and reconstructions: amphorae, farming tools, games, a model of the amphitheatre (with its special effects machine!), fragments of bronze statues, school tablets, sundials, lead pipes for distributing water..

Sarmizegetusa is 16 km from Hațeg, on the road to Caransebeș. The (rare) buses between Hațeg and Reșița or Deva and Zeicani stop here.