Tour of the Roman cities of Algeria

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Algiers

  

  Arrival and welcome at Algiers airport, Transfer to the hotel, with a stop at Riadh El Feth and the Balconies of Algiers. Arrival at the hotel, then walking city tour along the boulevards of Algiers: Michelet, d'Isly, the Grande Poste, the Forum, and the floral clock. Dinner and overnight stay.

• day 2

  Cherchell - Tipaza - Tomb of the Christian Woman

  

  Departure towards Cherchell, former Roman Caesarea (Phoenician IOL). Then visit the museum of exceptional antique sculptures, followed by a visit to the museum of ancient coins and its mosaic garden. We will finish with the discovery of the Roman baths. Fish lunch by the sea. Heading to Tipaza with a visit to the ancient city located on the western hill, the theater, the circus, the baths… (This site is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site). Numerous Punic, Roman, Christian, and African remains attest to the richness of the history of this region. On the way back, we make a detour to visit the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, called the Tomb of the Christian Woman. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 3

  Algiers - Casbah

  

  Departure for the visit of the Casbah, starting with the Citadel and the Centenary House (architect Claro Léon). Next, crossing the Casbah through the small alleys, with stops to visit traditional houses, terraces with panoramic views of the Bay of Algiers, as well as tastings of tea and traditional cakes. Then, visit to the oldest mosque in the Casbah: Sidi Ramdane, the Bir Chebana fountain, the Sidi Abderahmane mausoleum, the Mustapha Pacha palace (currently the Museum of Arabic Calligraphy). Traditional lunch in the Casbah. In the afternoon, discovery of the seafront boulevard and the national theater (1853), the popular district of Bâb El Oued, which is a group of neighborhoods (Guillemin, Trois Horloges, Baceta, Climat de France, and Trioli). The tour ends with the basilica of Notre-Dame d'Afrique (1872), an architectural jewel built on an exceptional site that overlooks Algiers from east to west. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  Algiers - Setif

  

  Early departure to the archaeological park of "Djemila", classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Formerly Cuicul. It is one of the most beautiful sets of Roman ruins in the world. The archaeological remains, the well-integrated Roman urban planning, and the environmental setting are the resources that represent the values attributed to the site (you will discover the Arch of Caracalla, the Great Baths, the Christian Basilica, as well as the museum and its magnificent mosaic panels), as well as the 4th-century Baptistery. Heading to Sétif, check-in at the hotel, then a walking tour of the city with its wide shopping avenues and its famous "Ain El Fouara" fountain, the symbol of the city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  Setif - Tiddis - Constantine

  

  Departure to Tiddis: an authentic Berber site modified by Roman civilization and developed according to their urbanization systems. Tiddis (or Castellum Tidditanorum), which once depended on Cirta, still preserves Libyan inscriptions and symbols on Berber pottery. Direction Constantine, arrival at the hotel, then lunch. In the afternoon, visit to the Cirta Museum, then a walk through the alleys of the old city, which is a real incursion into the history of Constantine, the Rhummel gorges, and the magnificent panoramas offered by the old Monument to the Dead and the city's famous suspension bridges. Dinner and overnight stay.

• day 6

  Constantine - Batna

  

  Departure to Batna with a stop at the Salines (large Chott where salt is produced). Visit to their production workshop. Then, visit to Médracen, which is a famous Berber tomb. Lunch in Timgad. In the afternoon, visit to the city of Timgad: the Roman city, which was called Thamugadi (colonia Marciana Traiana Thamugadi) in antiquity, was founded by Emperor Trajan and had the status of a colony. It is the last deductive colony in Roman Africa, built with its temples, baths, forum, and large theater. On the way back to the hotel, we make a brief visit to what remains of Lambèse (Lambaesis), Heart of the Roman military presence in Africa and former headquarters of the 3rd Augustan Legion under Trajan. The small town of Tazoult is also known for its penitentiary, built in 1850, which greatly helped in the discovery of the ancient city, but also constituted a major obstacle to an in-depth study of its remains. The gradual destruction due to the penitentiary, the colonial village, and then the current agglomeration, has made it difficult to preserve the Lambèse site. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  Batna - Madaure - Souk Ahras

  

  Road to M'Daourouche (Madauros), ancient Numidian city of Syphax from the 3rd century BC and kingdom of Massinissa. It was later established as an important Roman colony between the year 69 and 75 BC, under Emperor Vespasian. Saint Augustine studied there until the age of 15. Visit of the ancient city. Picnic lunch. After the lunch break, visit to the Olive Tree of Saint Augustine in Souk-Ahras. Return to the guest house. Dinner and overnight stay.

• day 8

  Sedrata - Khemissa - Souk Ahras

  

  Early departure for the visit of the Sedrata Rock Engravings. In the afternoon, head to Khamissa, the ancient city of Thubursicu Numidarum. Over the centuries, it expanded towards the north and northwest to become an ancient city of 65 hectares. Thubursicu Numidarum, strategically, occupied a place of prime importance: it was located on a road linking the port of Hippo Regius (near Annaba) to Theveste (Tebessa), the camp of the African legion. Excavations carried out in 1877 and then from 1903 to 1905, in this city of the Numidae tribe, made it possible to unearth: the Platea vetus (the old square), the Forum novum, a theater, baths, monumental gates, funerary monuments with numerous epitaphs, a Byzantine chapel, measuring tables, and statues of deities and notables. Return to the guest house. Dinner and overnight stay.

• day 9

  Souk Ahras - Guelma

  

  After breakfast, visit and discovery of the ancient city of Calama. The Roman Theatre, built in 201. It is based on a foundation of embankments lined with cut stones. It is due to the evergetism (philanthropy) of a certain Annia Aelia Restituta, daughter of a rich and powerful family of the time. She spent a fortune for the pleasure of her fellow citizens. It was reconstructed between 1902 and 1918. The theatre also houses the Roman museum of the city of Guelma, which contains important collections of coins, bronze objects, and statues. Lunch on site. We will then go to Hammam Chellala or Debagh, or also (Meskhoutine according to legend). The water temperature of Hammam Meskhoutine is only exceeded worldwide by that of the geysers of Iceland. Its therapeutic virtues were appreciated by the Romans, who called this place Aqua Tibatanae. Possibility to take a bath for those who wish. Dinner and overnight stay.

• day 10

  Guelma - Thibilis - Annaba

  

  After breakfast, head to Announa, a Roman site of about 10 ha. You will discover the triumphal arch, the forum, the capitol, and the basilicas. Thibilis is the birthplace of Saint Augustine's mother. Lunch and then continue to Annaba. Arrival, short visit of the city of Annaba. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

• day 11

  Annaba

  

  Head to the site of Hippo Regius (or Hippone), which was first a Carthaginian colony, then the residence of the Numidian kings and a Roman municipium under Augustus. It was later occupied by the Vandals, then the Byzantines and, finally, by the Arabs in the 10th century, until the end of the Fatimid period. The city had Saint Augustine as its bishop from 396 to 430 AD. Hippo was the episcopal seat of Augustine. Visit the Basilica of Peace of Hippone, the baptistery, the theater, the forum, the baths, and the museum. Then, visit the modern basilica of Saint Augustine with its Arab-Moorish style, but also Byzantine and Roman. Lunch, then head to Ras El Hamra (Cape de Garde), the tip of the Annaba Corniche. Then head to the mountain of Seraïdi to visit the hotel complex of the French architect Fernand Pouillon. Transfer to the airport for the flight Annaba 5:30 p.m. - Algiers 6:50 p.m. Special end-of-tour dinner in a restaurant in Algiers and overnight at the hotel.

• day 12

  Back

  

  Algiers airport transfer, Assistance at departure and return flight.