The Roman cities of Algeria tour

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1:

  Algiers

  

  Arrivée et accueil à l'aéroport d'Alger, Transfert à l'hôtel, avec un arrêt à Riadh El Feth et Les Balcons d'Alger. Installation à l'hôtel, puis balade à pied dans la ville sur les boulevards d'Alger : Michelet, d'Isly, la Grande Poste, le Forum et l'Horloge Florale. Dîner et nuit.

• day 2:

  Cherchell - Tipaza - Tomb of the Christian

  

  Departure towards Cherchell, ancient Roman Caesarea (IOL Phoenician). Then visit the museum of exceptional ancient sculptures, then visit the Museum of ancient pieces and its Mosaic garden and we will end with the discovery of the Roman Baths. Fish lunch by the sea Direction Tipasa with a visit to the ancient city located in the West hill, the theater, The circus, the thermal baths ... (This site is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site) ... Numerous Punic, Roman, Christian and African remains attest to the rich history of this region. On the way back we make a detour to visit the Royal Mausoleum of Mauritania, called Tombeau de la Chrétienne. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 3:

  Algiers - Casbah

  

  Departure to visit the Casbah, starting with the Citadel and the Centenary House (Architect Claro Léon). Then cross the Casbah through the small alleys with stops to visit Traditional Houses, Terraces with panoramic views of the Bay of Algiers, tea tastings and traditional cakes. Then visit the oldest mosque in the Casbah: Sidi Ramdane, the Bir Chebana Fountain, the Sidi Abderahmane Mausoleum, the Mustapha Pasha Palace (currently the Arab Calligraphy Museum). Traditional Lunch at the Casbah. Afternoon discover the seafront boulevard and the national theater (1853), the popular district of Bâb El Oued which is a set of districts (Guillemin, Trois Horloges, Baceta, Climat de France and Trioli) then we end the hike by the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa (1872) an architectural gem built on an exceptional site which dominates Algiers from east to west. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 4:

  Algiers - Setif

  

  Early departure to the "Djemila" archaeological park, 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 plan and the environmental framework constitute the resources which represent the values attributed to the site (we will discover the Arch of Caracala, the Great Baths, the Christian Basilica as well as the museum and its magnificent paintings mosaics) as well as the 4th Century Baptistery. Direction Sétif, check in at the hotel, then a walking tour of the city with its wide shopping streets, and its famous "Ain El Fouara" fountain, symbol of the city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 5:

  Sétif - Tiddis - Constantine

  

  Departure to Tiddis: an authentic Berber site modified by Roman civilization and fitted out according to their urbanization systems. Tiddis (or Castellum Tidditanorum), which once depended on Cirta still retains Libyan inscriptions and symbols on Berber pottery. Direction Constantine, check in at the hotel, then lunch. Afternoon, visit of the Cirta Museum, then walk through the alleys of the old town, which constitutes a real foray into the history of Constantine, the Rhummel gorges and the magnificent panoramas offered by the old Monument to the Dead and the famous suspension bridges in the city. Dinner and overnight.

• day 6:

  Constantine - Batna

  

  Departure to Batna with a stop in the Saltworks (large Chott where salt is produced). Visit of their production workshop. Then visit Medracen which is a famous Berber Tomb. Lunch in Timgad, Afternoon visit of the City of Timgad: The Roman city, which bore the name of Thamugadi (colonia Marciana Traiana Thamugadi) in Antiquity, was founded by Emperor Trajan and endowed with the status of a colony. It is the last deduction colony in Roman Africa. Built with its temples, thermal baths, forum and large theater. On the way back to the hotel we will do a brief tour of what remains of Lambèse (Lambaesis), Heart of the Roman military presence in Africa and former headquarters of the 3rd Legion of Augustus under Trajan. The small town of Tazoult is also known for its penitentiary erected in 1850 which helped a lot in the discovery of the old city but also a major obstacle to a thorough study of its remains, the gradual destruction because of the penitentiary, the colonial village then the current agglomeration have made it difficult to conserve the Lambèse site. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 7:

  Batna - Madaure - Souk Ahras

  

  Road to M’Daourouche, (Madauros), old Numidian city of Syphax from the 3rd century BC. J.C and kingdom of Massinissa. It was later erected into an important Roman colony between 69 and 75 BC, under Emperor Vespasian. Saint Augustine studied there until the age of 15. Visit of the ancient city. Picnic lunch. After lunch break, visit of the Olivier de Saint-Augustin in Souk-Ahras. Return to the guest house. Dinner and overnight.

• day 8:

  Sedrata - Khemissa - Souk Ahras

  

  Early departure for the visit of the Rock Engravings of Sedrata. Afternoon, direction Khamissa ancient ancient city of Thubursicu Numidarum Over the centuries, it grew north and northwest to form a city of 65 hectares. Thubursicu Numidarum, strategically, occupied a place of prime importance: it was located on a road connecting the port of Hippo Regius (near Annaba) to Theveste (Tebessa), camp of the African legion. in 1877 then from 1903 to 1905, in this city of the Numidae tribe, allowed to exhume: the Platea vetus (the old square), the Forum novum, a theater, thermal baths, monumental doors, funerary monuments with numerous epitaphs, a Byzantine chapel, measuring tables and statues of divinities and notables. Return to the guest house. Dinner and overnight.

• day 9:

  Souk Ahras - Guelma

  

  After breakfast, visit and discovery of the ancient city of Calama. The Roman Theater, built in 201. It leans on a foundation of embankment adorned with freestone. It is due to the evergetism (charity) 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 theater also houses the Roman Museum of the City of Guelma, which contains important collections of coins, bronze objects and statues. Lunch there, we will then go to Hammam Chellala or Debagh, or even (Meskhoutine according to legend). The water temperature of Hammam Meskhoutine is exceeded globally only by that of the geysers of Iceland. Its therapeutic virtues were appreciated by the Romans who called this place Aqua Tibatanae. Possibility of taking a bath for those who wish. Dinner and overnight.

• day 10:

  Guelma - Thibilis - Annaba

  

  After breakfast, direction (Announa), a Roman site of approximately 10 ha. You will discover the triumphal arch, the forum, the capitol and the basilicas. Thibilis is the birthplace of the mother of Saint Augustine. Lunch and continuation to Annaba. Arrival, short visit to the city of Annaba. Installation at the Hotel. Dinner and overnight.

• day 11:

  Annaba

  

  Direction the site of Hippo Regius (or Hippone) which was first a Carthaginian colony, then the residence of the Numidian kings and the Roman municipality under Augustus. It will then be 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 was bishop Saint Augustine from 396 to 430 AD Hippo, episcopal seat of Augustine. Visit of the Basilica of the Peace of Hippo, the baptistery, the theater, the forum, the thermal baths and the Museum, then the modern Basilica of Saint Augustine with its Arab-Moorish but also Byzantine and Roman style. Lunch then Ras El Hamra (Cap de Garde), the tip of the Corniche of Annaba. Then head to the Montagne de Seraïdi to visit the hotel complex of the French architect Fernand Pouillon. Airport transfer for Annaba flight 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:

  Return

  

  Algiers airport transfer, Departure and return flight assistance.