The ruins of the ancient city of Volubilis - this is one of the most popular historical sites of Morocco. They are located at Mount Zerhoun 30 km from the city of Meknes.

Volubilis has a long and eventful history. Even during the Neolithic period in these places is a car park Stone Age people. And in the III century. BC. it housed the settlements of the ancient Phoenicians. A century later, they were expelled from these places by the Romans, who formed his city Volubilis (pervode in Latin - "generosity"), eventually became the most southwestern city of the Roman Empire and the capital of the province of Mauretania Tingitana. The local edge has long been famous for their fertility, besides agriculture locals also engaged in copper mining and production of olive oil. City grew rapidly, and soon its population reached 20 thousand. Man.

A large number of earthquakes gradually led to the decline of the city and at the end of III century. Romans left it. After four centuries of local lands were inhabited by Arabs, Berbers, Jews and Syrians.

At the end of Article VIII. Volubilis was the residence of the first governor of Morocco, grandson Mukhamet Idris I, but he did not stay here long. In the seventeenth century. Moulay Ismail's advisors asked him to rebuild the city. But the choice fell on the provincial governor of Meknes, which was taken all the marble columns and a large part of Volubilis.

A terrible Lisbon earthquake, which occurred in 1755, buried the city under the ground, keeping only the top surface of buildings, including the Basilica and the Arc de Triomphe, which were discovered by Europeans in 1874 .. Since then, in these places have been started archaeological excavations thanks to which have been found and reconstructed many of the old buildings.

Entire neighborhoods Roman fairly well preserved under the ground, their homes decorated with beautiful mosaic patterns. Preserved as small columns supporting the arches above the houses, and ancient tools for the production of olive oil and wine. Particularly interesting tour the Capitol, the Forum and the remnants of the Arc de Triomphe.

In 1997, the Volubilis ruins were listed as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO.