Oudhna (Uthina)
Roman veterans' colony with amphitheatre, capitol and baths
Uthina, now Oudhna, lies in farmland about 30 km south of Tunis. It was one of the earliest Roman colonies in Africa, settled by veterans of the Thirteenth Legion under Augustus. The site is compact and rarely crowded. Its large capitol stands on vaulted substructures you can walk through, and the restored amphitheatre is used again for performances. There are also extensive public baths and houses whose mosaics, including those of the House of Ikarios, are now in the Bardo Museum. Arches of the Zaghouan–Carthage aqueduct cross the plain nearby, so the site pairs well with the Temple of Waters.
Highlights
- Capitol on vaulted substructures
- Restored amphitheatre
- Large public baths
- Aqueduct arches in the surrounding plain
Best months to visit
Location
Nearby
UNESCOMedina of Tunis
Covered souks and centuries-old mosques around the Zitouna
≈ 3 h on sitePrice on request
Bardo National Museum
One of the world's great collections of Roman mosaics
≈ 3 h on sitePrice on request
Zaghouan Temple of Waters
Roman spring sanctuary at the head of Carthage's aqueduct
≈ 2 h on sitePrice on request