Incredibly, at this spot there was once a farmhouse of a 20th-century French colonist who unsympathetically built it here it was only demolished when Uthina became an official archaeological site in 2008. Medina meanders: exploring the old walled city in the heart of TunisĪt the top of the site is the columned Capitole. Be sure to check out the lararium, a painted niche where the forced entertainment gave offerings to ask for protection. Thanks to recent funding, the amphitheatre's basement – where felons and wild animals waited before being thrust in front of the crowds to brawl until the end – is now accessible to visitors. Little is known about the details of the livelihood of Uthina, but it’s one of the Roman empire’s original cities in North Africa, and the restored Hadrian-era 16,000-seater amphitheatre is one of the finest in the country. Descending into the depths of the ruins at Uthina is one of its greatest rewards © Gallo Images / Shaen Adey / Getty Images Uthinaĭespite being the best collection of Roman ruins closest to Tunis, Uthina sadly still falls off most travellers’ radars.

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