|
Djemila
Timgad
Royal Mausoleum of Mauritania
|
|
ROMAN ALGERIA
October 23 - November 2, 2010 & April 9 - 19, 2011
The Roman antiquities of Algeria, just three hours from London, are virtually unknown in the English-speaking world. Yet Rome's lengthy domination of North Africa bequeathed to Algeria a cornucopia of monumental remains, including three remarkable UNESCO-designated sites: Tipasa, Timgad and Djemila.
As well as evoking Algeria's ancient past our itinerary will call in on Constantine, �City of Bridges�, and explore that most suggestive of cities, �Alger la Blanche�, where the labyrinthine kasbah occupies one of the finest coastal sites on the Mediterranean.
The ruins of Tipasa, nestling undisturbed amongst palm trees on the shores of the Mediterranean, once served as an inspiration to Albert Camus. The settlement, which first took shape as a Phoenician trading post, came under Roman rule in the first century AD; today Phoenician, Roman, palaeo-Christian and Byzantine ruins vie for attention alongside the nearby Mauritanian mausoleum.
The Roman remains in eastern Algeria are equally impressive: south of Constantine, on the northern slopes of the Aur�s, lies the former military colony of Timgad, the �Pompeii of Africa�. Constructed under Trajan as a bulwark against the Berbers, Timgad represents the embodiment of Roman urban planning. The town's treasures range from a library with niches for over 20,000 books to an inscription incised in the forum: �Hunting, bathing, gambling, laughing - that is to live�.
T�bessa's elegant, beautifully-preserved 3rd century AD Temple of Minerva is bettered by its ancient basilica, whilst Lambaesis is one of the most magnificent legionary camps in the whole of North Africa. The wheel-rutted streets Djemila - ancient Cuicul - are lined with two forums and a clutch of splendid houses, churches and temples.
Algeria is still finding its feet after the struggles of its recent past; the standard of hotels and service rarely matches the high expectations of Western travellers. By contrast, the warmth and hospitality extended to visitors is exceptional.
For more photos of Algeria, see www.acealgeria.tk.
Itinerary
| Day 1 Depart Heathrow 0945 on British Airways, arriving Algiers 1225. Transfer to Hotel Safir, central Algiers, for two nights. Afternoon: walking tour of central Algiers including Grande Poste, Place Abdel Kader, Chambre de Commerce, colonial buildings. | | Day 2 Whole-day excursion to Tombeau de la Chrétienne (royal mausoleum of Mauritania) then along Mediterranean to Cherchell (Roman port of Caesarea): archaeology museum, old port, theatre, forum and Tipasa: amphitheatre, 4th century basilica, forum, old port. | | Day 3 Algiers: Bardo Museum, Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts (artefacts from Algeria's Roman sites) followed by kasbah (citadel, old mosques, Ottoman-style palaces) with visit to Museum of Popular Arts. Afternoon: lunch in private house in kasbah followed by Notre Dame d'Afrique (stunning view over Bay of Algiers) and transfer to airport for internal flight to Annaba for two nights at Hotel Sabri. | | Day 4 Whole-day excursion to Hippo Regius (baths, houses, ancient basilica of St Augustine, forum, theatre) followed by visit to modern basilica of St Augustine. Afternoon: Annaba (colonial buildings, mosques), Cap de Garde. | | Day 5 Via Souk Ahras (birthplace of St Augustine) and Madauros (home of Apuleius) to Tébessa: temple of Minerva (museum), church, basilica, arch of Caracalla, Byzantine fortifications, French market. Continue to Hotel Beni Osmane for overnight. | | Day 6 Via Khenchella (Roman baths) for Timgad (splendidly preserved town founded by Trajan): huge library, colonnaded streets, temples, amphitheatre, arch of Trajan, basilica and Lambaesis (legionary fortress, Temple of Aesculapius, Capitolium, baths). Continue to Batna for two nights at Hotel Salim. | | Day 7 Whole-day excursion southwards through spectacular scenery of Aures Mountains, Gorge of Tighanimine and El Abiod Canyon to Biskra, “gateway to the Sahara”, with visits to troglodyte village of Rhoufi and El Kantara (“Calceus Herculis”).
| | Day 8 Via Mausoleum of Medracen (late 3rd century BC royal tomb) for Constantine Museum and then on to Roman site of Tiddis (triumphal arch, tiny forum, necropolis). Transfer to Hotel Cirta, Constantine, for overnight.
| | Day 9 Constantine (”city of bridges”) including spectacular gorge of Sidi Mcid, Kantara Bridge, aqueduct ruins, Great Mosque followed by Djemila (ancient garrison of Cuicul): forum, temples, basilicas, triumphal arches, houses, theatre. Continue to Hotel El Rif, near Sétif, for overnight.
| | Day 10 Béni Fouda (on ancient border between Nuimidia and Mauritania) then Sétif (museum, short walking tour) before transferring to Sétif airport for internal flight to Algiers and overnight at Hotel Safir.
| | Day 11 Algiers: Jardin d'Essai. Depart Algiers 1325, arriving Heathrow 1615.
|
for more information about ACE Cultural Tours - Cultural and Historic Tours
Click Here >>
|
|
ACE'S NORTH AFRICAN PROGRAMME FOR
2010 INCLUDES TOURS TO LIBYA, EGYPT AND MOROCCO AS WELL AS ALGERIA, THE MEDITERRANEAN'S LEAST EXPLORED COUNTRY.
Price From
£2590
Reference
Roman Algeria
Visit Our Website >>
Holiday valid to
08 April 2011
Price Includes the services of Philip Kenrick, MA, DPhil (Oxon), classical archaeologist and author of a new guidebook to Tripolitania, return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, full board (including four picnic lunches), excursions and admissions.
Price Excludes travel insurance, visa, single room supplement.
Highlights of ROMAN ALGERIA
| - The key addition to our Roman Algeria programme is a whole-day excursion through some of the country's most breath-taking scenery to the oasis town of Biskra, where we will have a taste of the northern fringes of the Sahara. |
| - If you've enjoyed travelling in the Maghreb or Libya, then you are likely to find Algeria an even more rewarding (and even more adventurous!) destination. |
|
|
|
