Touring the Makthar Archaeological Site in Tunisia
Posted: February 2, 2020
I visited the Archaeological site of Makthar as a day trip from El Kef.
El Kef to Makthar is 70km, 5 Dinar, 1 hr 20 in a red striped louage.
This is Bab El Ain, which you will see when heading from town. The entrance to the archaeological site is across the road.
This is Bab El Ain, which you will see when heading from town. The entrance to the archaeological site is across the road.
Entrance fee for the site is 8 Dinar.
There's a small museum.
Mactaris was founded in the late 5th century BC by the Numidians who were Berber tribes living in much of what is the present-day Maghreb.
It was annexed to the Roman Empire by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. In the 2nd century AD, Mactaris became the capital of a district, incorporating several cities and under Marcus Aurelius. Between 176 and 180AD inhabitants of Mactaris were granted Roman citizenship.
From an archaeological point of view the Roman period is the richest with the paved forum dominated by the Triumphal arch dedicated to Emperor Trajan. There are also thermal baths and the amphitheatre.
It was annexed to the Roman Empire by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. In the 2nd century AD, Mactaris became the capital of a district, incorporating several cities and under Marcus Aurelius. Between 176 and 180AD inhabitants of Mactaris were granted Roman citizenship.
From an archaeological point of view the Roman period is the richest with the paved forum dominated by the Triumphal arch dedicated to Emperor Trajan. There are also thermal baths and the amphitheatre.
Centre stage is the Arc de Trajan, dedicated to Emperor Trajan in the year 116.
Inscription on the Arc de Trajan:
Mactaris is quite a large site:
The Roman baths:
This was my last shot. The sky was clearing and I changed the settings on my camera a bit
On the way here I was dropped in the centre so I had to ask where the station was to get back to El Kef. Normally I ride until the last stop but today I hadn't.
A few wrong turnings later I was in the right place, opposite the now closed Hotel Maktaris. I saw the driver from the mornings' ride. There were not enough 'voyagers', mainly because at 3 pm there would be a big bus running from Kairouan to El Kef.
A few wrong turnings later I was in the right place, opposite the now closed Hotel Maktaris. I saw the driver from the mornings' ride. There were not enough 'voyagers', mainly because at 3 pm there would be a big bus running from Kairouan to El Kef.
Bus fare back to El Kef 4,190 Dinar. Journey time 90 mins +/-.
There is also a bus going the other way to Kairouan, coming through at roughly the same time. Make sure you get in the right one.
There is no timetable posted anywhere. This is local knowledge.
Arrival point is the main bus station in the southern part of El Kef, so the walk up the hill to the centre stretches your stiff limbs from the journey.
There is also a bus going the other way to Kairouan, coming through at roughly the same time. Make sure you get in the right one.
There is no timetable posted anywhere. This is local knowledge.
Arrival point is the main bus station in the southern part of El Kef, so the walk up the hill to the centre stretches your stiff limbs from the journey.
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- Visiting Kairouan, the 4th-Holiest City in Islam
- Visiting the UNESCO Roman Amphitheatre of El Jem
- Driving across the Chott el Djerid Salt Lake
- Visiting the Archaeological Site of Sbeitla
- How to get from Sbeitla to El Kef
- Using El Kef as a base
- Visiting the Historical Ruins of Bella Regia
- Mini Guide to Tunisia
