Timgad

Timgad is a Roman archaeological site in the town of Timgad in northeastern Algeria, spread across open terrain with columns, arches and stone walls emerging from the soil. The site preserves the full layout of a colonial city, with major streets lined by columns and entire neighborhoods showing where people once lived and worked.

The colony was founded in the year 100 on the order of Emperor Trajan as a settlement for retired Roman soldiers near the edge of the Sahara. The city grew over the next few centuries before it was abandoned in the 7th century after several waves of attacks.

The theater still gives a sense of how Roman colonists gathered for performances and public events far from Italy. The baths and public latrines show the level of comfort and social routine that Rome wanted to establish even in remote territories.

The site can be visited in any weather, though the sun is strong in summer and shade is scarce among the ruins. Sturdy shoes help on the stone paths, which can be uneven in places.

The library was among the largest in Roman North Africa, and the wall niches for scrolls are still visible today. Inscriptions on many stones have survived, making it possible to read names and dedications from Roman times.