After years of having Pompeii on my list, I finally made it to Naples. But oddly, as I was walking the streets and listening to the guide, I realised that I’d seen it all before at Ostia Antica, the port of ancient Rome (about 30km outside Rome, obvs). Not only that, but I’d also been to a surprising number of Roman archaeological sites in my travels.
So, if you’ve done Pompeii and Italy, but still want to get your Roman archaeological fix, here are a few places you could visit.
Nîmes, France
In the South of France, near Montpelier and Avignon, you’ll find Nîmes. Originally a Celtic town, under Augustus’ reign, it became one of the most prosperous Roman cities outside Rome. There are a number of key sites to visit.
Roman Nîmes
Pont du Gard – An aqueduct built in the middle of the 1st century to supply the city of Nemausus (now Nîmes) with water. A little way out of Nîmes (23km), the actual site is free to enter (though parking is €9), but if you want to enter any of the educational areas, the fee is €5-6.50 per person.
Arena of Nîmes – In its heyday (1st and 2nd century), it would fit around 24,000 people and even these days, they still can get a fair crowd in there for shows. Given it’s the most well-preserved amphitheatre outside of Rome and it’s in the very centre of the town, it’s difficult to miss and it’s definitely worth a visit. It’s €10 per adult.
Maison Carree – An temple dedicated to Caius and Lucius Cesar. It has had extensive restoration and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it’s really quite impressive. I didn’t go inside while I was there, but you can – it’s €6.
La Tour Magne – 140 steps (and €3.50) is all it takes to get a really gorgeous view of Nîmes. It was actually a Gallic construction and when the Romans came they made their additions and included it in the wall around the city, along with 80 other towers. And it’s the only one left standing.
Temple de Diana – It’s not in the best-preserved condition (unlike some of the other sites in Nîmes), but it’s located in a tranquil space surrounded by gardens. It was my favourite spot because it felt the most authentic – though, they don’t have any evidence for it being a temple to Diana, but I’m happy to pretend. You don’t need to pay to visit, just wander to your heart’s content.
Trier, Germany
I visited Trier in September 2022, dragging my dad, yet again, to some old Roman buildings. Thankfully he’s used to it by now. And, to be honest, he’s always impressed by the architecture, so, really, I’m doing him a favour.
We found an Airbnb across the Moselle River from the centre of the town – luckily, because it meant we were required to cross the Roman Bridge. Unluckily, the bridge isn’t obviously a historical piece of infrastructure, because it has been built upon over time. Just me, or is it crazy that people can just drive over a bridge that has been around for a couple of thousand years?
One thing to keep in mind about Trier is that a lot is closed on Sunday. We had planned to stay Friday through to Monday morning, but with everything closed, we made an earlier trip back.
About Trier
Trier is considered Germany’s oldest city. It was founded by the Celts (Treuorum) and was later conquered by the Romans becoming Augusta Treverorum.
Sites in Trier
Porta Nigra – Another one of those sites right in the centre of the town that you can’t miss. You can visit this one and try to pretend you can imagine Trier as it was 2000 years ago. And it’s only €4 per adult.
Rheinisches Landesmuseum – The Archaeology Museum was a must-visit for me, and I wasn’t disappointed – there is a huge range of artefacts there, some a bit more modern than others. It’s a must-visit at €8 per adult.
The baths – There are three bath locations in Trier – we didn’t make it inside any of them, but we did have a little look at the Roman festival happening inside…
Trier Amphitheatre – Not quite as exciting as some of the amphitheatres mentioned here, but its historical significance makes it a fascinating site. The scale and architecture reflect the grandeur of Roman entertainment that we all know about. It’s €4 per adult.
Volubilis, Morocco
My most recent addition to the list is Volubilis. I went to Morocco for Christmas 2022 and it would have been remiss of me not to choose a tour that included a Roman town. Like Ostia Antica and Pompeii, this is large site and you could easily wander the ruins for a few hours if you have the time.
About Volubilis
Volubilis is a UNESCO Heritage site; a combination of Berber and Roman and is about 27km from Meknes in northern Morocco. The site has only been partly excavated so there are no full buildings to visit, but with a bit of imagination, you’ll see the remains of a basilica, a triumphal arch, and many residential buildings adorned with intricate mosaics. In fact, Volubilis is renowned for the well-preserved floor mosaics depicting mythological scenes, such as the Labors of Hercules and the adventures of Orpheus.
It fell to local tribes around 285 and was never retaken by Rome because of its remoteness and indefensibility on the south-western border of the Roman Empire. It became a Christian city and then an Islamic settlement.
If you would like to visit, it’s 70 dirhams (about £15). I’d also recommend visiting in the morning rather than at the end of the day (that’s when I got my photos and I was so pleased with them). Finally, there isn’t much shade, so I recommend a hat, sunnies and sunscreen.
Tarragona, Spain
I visited Tarragona back in 2017 as part of a tour exploring Costa Durada, which is about 100km outside Barcelona – you can get there in about 1.5 hours if you drive or take public transport.
About Tarragona
Tarragona has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. During Roman times it was called Tarraco and it’s the oldest Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula.
While you’re there, take a few minutes to sit in the sun and have a big glass of vermut.
Sites in Tarragona
Roman Amphitheatre – Built in the 2nd century, the amphitheatre held up to 15,000 people for the usual Roman ‘entertainment’ (gladiator fights, public executions and the like). Over the last century, it has been excavated and partially restored. The cool thing about it, aside from the excellent sea view, is that it has layers. Like many Roman buildings, the amphitheatre was repurposed for religious use by the newest religion on the block (at the time) – Christianity. In the middle of the site, you’ll find ruins of a basilica built in the 6th century.
Praetorium and Roman Circus – You’ll enter the site via the Praetorium, a tower built in the 1st century – and considering its age, it’s brilliant you can still go to the top and take in the views (obviously very different from the original views). It also has a permanent exhibition, if you like a ‘sticky beak’.
Once you’re done at the Praetorium you’ll move through to the ruins of the Roman Circus, which apparently held up to 30,000 spectators for the chariot races. You can take a walk around the archaeological site to get a feel for the size and intricacy of the construction.
Each site is about €5 to visit, which is a bargain, really!
There are also museums for your viewing pleasure, but sadly, I did not get to any of them while in town. Let me know how you go if you get to visit anyway.
UK
There are, of course, plenty of Roman sites in the UK – Bath, Chester, Chedworth, to name just a couple. I suspect that many of you will know more about Bath than most of the places on this list, but it’s just one example of the Roman sites you can find in the UK. Some, you might even randomly come across while out walking, such as the Great Witcombe Roman Villa near Cheltenham.
I could write out a very long list of places to visit, but I feel that might be best left for a post of its own.
