La Gazelle | Page 67

Hot Spot I Hot Spot I ????? ??????? envies wishlist ????????????? 3 1 2 L’amphithéâtre d’Oudhna accueille chaque été des concerts, pièces de théâtre, projections de film... Il n’a encore pas de festival comme à El Jem. Le potentiel extraordinaire du site naturel, historique et archéologique d’Oudhna est apprécié du public qui se le réapproprie peu à peu. Le site se visite sans se presser en 1h30, une belle balade à faire en famille le week-end. I l ocated at about 30 km to the south of Tunis, the archaeological site of the ancient city of Uthina is now part of the agricultural estate Oudna. Uthina was a city in the Roman era. At that time, the town was situated on the road between Carthage and Thuburbo Maius. Uthina is considered as one of the most ancient African colonies, since its creation by Roman army veterans dates back to the age of Augustus. However, the site is probably of Berber origin, as its name suggests. The wealth of this town was based on the cultivation of cereals. The city developped itself throughout the period of Roman domination and blossomed in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. During this period, all the monuments of which we can now see the remains have been erected. The archaeological site is vast and the ruins spread over about 140 hectares. The city is now reviving and inscribing itself in the great and rich history of Tunisia. The recently renewed interest for the antique site of Uthina have enabled to restart a study of the general topography of the Roman town, the examination of many monumental complexes and the restoration of some interesting buildings such as the Capitol and the amphitheatre. Like every Roman city, the site counts an amphitheatre, a capitol, some thermal baths, some cisterns, an aqueduct and some residences including luxurious villas. The amphitheatre, leaning on a hillside and half buried could welcome more than 15000 spectators, which makes it the 3rd largest amphitheatre in the country, after those of Carthage and El Jem. Every summer, Oudna’s amphitheatre welcomes concerts, theatre plays, film projections… It still doesn’t host a festival, unlike El Jem. The extraordinary potential of the natural, historical and archaeological site is appreciated by the public, who makes it his own little by little. The site can be visited in 1h30, with no hurry ; a nice stroll on weekends for the whole family. I 1. Vue du portique à piliers reliés par des arcades construites par des gros blocs de pierre. I Sight of the portico with pillars linked by archways, built with huge stone blocks. I ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????? ??????? ??????? ????? I .???????? ??????? 2. Vue du Capitole édifié sur les hauteurs du site. I Sight of the Capitol erected on the site’s heights. I ????? ?? ????????? ?????? ???? I .???????? ??????? 3. Une des pièces voutées restaurées et situées sous le Capitole. I One of the restored vaulted rooms situated under the Capitol. I ?????? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ????? ??? ??????? ? ???? ???? I .???? ???? ?????????? 69 I 54 ??????????????