Uthina (Oudhna)
Uthina (Oudhna)
4.5
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4.5
52 reviews
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Dirk W
Alexandra Headland, Australia10,142 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
The Romans had a habit of establishing cities for their Army veterans, thus rewarding them with land and acting as protectors of new colonies at the same time. Uthina was the retirement home for the 13th Legion Gemina, who served under Augustus.
The site does not seem to be on the program of tour groups, we were virtually alone. That's a pity, because it is certainly worth a visit to view the capitol, large amphitheater, theatre, cistern, forum, etc
Sensationally, there are numerous wonderful mosaics left in situ ; this really enhances the experience and makes it unique.
The site does not seem to be on the program of tour groups, we were virtually alone. That's a pity, because it is certainly worth a visit to view the capitol, large amphitheater, theatre, cistern, forum, etc
Sensationally, there are numerous wonderful mosaics left in situ ; this really enhances the experience and makes it unique.
Written 21 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeremy Y
Saint-Claude, Guadeloupe156 contributions
July 2022 • Couples
I didn’t know about this site until It was mentioned to me by a local. I can’t believe it is not more famous as it is really a Gem if you are interested in Roman ruins and architecture. The site offers the remains of a well preserved amphitheater but also the ruins of a great Roman bath, a capitol, a forum and presumably some villas.
I highly recommend it
Also you can see the remains of one of the biggest aqueducts in the Roman world. It deserve to be a unesco site
I highly recommend it
Also you can see the remains of one of the biggest aqueducts in the Roman world. It deserve to be a unesco site
Written 21 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Riadh Travelux
Berlin, Germany702 contributions
Sept 2020 • Solo
By my first Visit to Uthina, I was impressed how beautiful and peaceful the Location
I had real great Time and thanks to the Guards by their explanation and support since there was no Tour guide available
The Site is open from Saturday to Sunday ( Monday CLOSED)
I had real great Time and thanks to the Guards by their explanation and support since there was no Tour guide available
The Site is open from Saturday to Sunday ( Monday CLOSED)
Written 7 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mitch G
Redwood City, CA9 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
The ruins of Uthina (also called Oudna or Oudhna) are about 45 minutes drive from Tunis. The site is little known to tourists and is still being actively excavated. If you like ancient ruins, this site is a real gem. There is an amazingly well preserved amphitheater, including some of the below ground passages and storage areas. There is a very large temple, baths and a number of large villas. Many of the villas have excellent mosaic floors (although some are reproductions, the originals having been removed to the Bardo museum). It is a large site with recently installed informative signage. The surrounding countryside is also quite scenic, with olive groves and wheat fields. When I visited it in March 2016, there were only about eight other tourists spread over the site. If you have visited Carthage and Dougga and want to see more Roman ruins, I highly recommend making a visit to this site.
Written 3 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KElliott892
Oxford, UK55 contributions
Drove to Uthina from Sousse. Passed the extensive aquaduct on our way from Zagrouan where we has visited a roman fountain. We were the only people there. The Amphitheatre was amazing. A really interesting site for those interested in Roman history. Although photography was not supposed to be allowed the helpful on site staff allowed us to take photographs. The public baths and Capital below ground had well preserved areas.
Well worth a visit. Recommended.
Well worth a visit. Recommended.
Written 26 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FrequentFlier301294
1 contribution
This site is amazing the Amphitheatre is very much like El Jem , but a little smaller in size. The mosaic floors in the houses are fantastic to see. Then you walk up the hill to the amazing stairs and columns of the main "The Capitol ".this is on 2 levels, upper level has great views over the whole area,and under ground level to keep you cool from the baking sun! Take plenty of water with you!! Not much shade to be had. A big area to see. We spent 2hours there but could have spent another 2 hours to see everything. .There is a guide book in English to buy (3.50 TD)when you buy your entry ticket (7TD). This is a must see site in Tunisia.
Written 20 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alfredcollections
Wiltshire2,199 contributions
Dec 2010 • Friends
To reach Uthina you will need a car. Just north of Zaghuan in the northern area of Tunisia Not too far from Tunis Tunis. It is well worth a visit it has several ruined buildings.Gladiator Arena /Baths /Impressive city centre. A bath with mosiacs still in situe..Once seen you are not too far from Thuburbo Majus on the road south from Tunis another site well worth seeing.
Written 13 November 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LDarian
Washington79 contributions
Oct 2017
I visited this site with a private tour guide, who was fantastic and very knowledgeable about the history of this area, as well as more recent Tunisian politics. Because this site is only 45 minutes from Tunis we were also able to visit the aquaduct. Highly recommended!
Written 23 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arbuthnott C
Kensington, Australia124 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
Uthina is situated less than an hour by road from Tunis, and is the ruin of what had been a Roman town. More impressive than what has become of the ruins of Carthage, and much closer than the more spectacular site at Dougga, much further south.
The Uthina site consists of a partly-reconstructed amphitheatre; underground structures that are the remains of collapsed baths; rambling scraps of walls and floors; a limited area of impressive mosaic floor; and the impressive remains of a forum and temples. When visiting the temples, be aware that there is a locked museum under the structure - well worth the visit, but requiring one of the staff to be present to unlock it. The collapsed baths are some way off from both the amphitheatre and from the forum/temple, and risk being missed if you are not paying attention. They are off to your left when looking from the site entrance towards the temple, some distance away from the road, and nearer to the temple than to the entrance.
It is always a good plan to take your own water, if intending long walks in the sun. However, in case of need there are cold drinks on sale near the forum/temple, on the far side of the site.
The site of Uthina is close to both the spectacular remains of the aqueduct that had supplied water to Carthage, and to the Water Temple, at Zagouane - source of that water for Carthage. All three could be visited in a half-day, but it is a bit of a rush.
There are no cafes or restaurants that I would recommend to eat in the village closest to Uthina. However, there are some pleasant places to eat either in or close to Zagouane. There is also convenient food, for the less discerning, right next to the Water Temple site itself.
It is possible to plan a convenient route from Tunis that follows the line of the aqueduct to/from Uthina. At the point at which the aqueduct emerges from ground level there is foot access to be able to walk up to a hundred metres or so along the inside of the water channel. One of the two alternative routes from Uthina to Zagouane adds to the interest by going cross-country.
None of the sites are particularly well looked-after, although all are well worth the visit. Amateur archaeologists may be disappointed by what appear to be relatively unsympathetic attempts at reconstruction. The results are generally attractive, but of uncertain historical accuracy.
The Uthina site consists of a partly-reconstructed amphitheatre; underground structures that are the remains of collapsed baths; rambling scraps of walls and floors; a limited area of impressive mosaic floor; and the impressive remains of a forum and temples. When visiting the temples, be aware that there is a locked museum under the structure - well worth the visit, but requiring one of the staff to be present to unlock it. The collapsed baths are some way off from both the amphitheatre and from the forum/temple, and risk being missed if you are not paying attention. They are off to your left when looking from the site entrance towards the temple, some distance away from the road, and nearer to the temple than to the entrance.
It is always a good plan to take your own water, if intending long walks in the sun. However, in case of need there are cold drinks on sale near the forum/temple, on the far side of the site.
The site of Uthina is close to both the spectacular remains of the aqueduct that had supplied water to Carthage, and to the Water Temple, at Zagouane - source of that water for Carthage. All three could be visited in a half-day, but it is a bit of a rush.
There are no cafes or restaurants that I would recommend to eat in the village closest to Uthina. However, there are some pleasant places to eat either in or close to Zagouane. There is also convenient food, for the less discerning, right next to the Water Temple site itself.
It is possible to plan a convenient route from Tunis that follows the line of the aqueduct to/from Uthina. At the point at which the aqueduct emerges from ground level there is foot access to be able to walk up to a hundred metres or so along the inside of the water channel. One of the two alternative routes from Uthina to Zagouane adds to the interest by going cross-country.
None of the sites are particularly well looked-after, although all are well worth the visit. Amateur archaeologists may be disappointed by what appear to be relatively unsympathetic attempts at reconstruction. The results are generally attractive, but of uncertain historical accuracy.
Written 24 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abbeylls
Norwich, UK1,452 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
We had not heard of Uthina before we visited and as soon as we saw the excursion we knew we had to go see it. We went as part of an organised tour in September 2014.
We saw some of the Roman aquaduct remains on the way there, this transported water from the Water Temple in the mountains to Carthidge / Tunis. Then we went to the Uthina site which is very impressive - so much to see!
We started off at the temple / forum site, going up the steps you see the pillars and then get some great views of the surrounding area and other sites from the high platform area. Descend the steps to go underneath this building. You are free to explore the rooms and corridors.
The next part of the site were the public baths, where you can go down some steps (abit wobbly!) to the basement areas which you can look around.
The private baths were next, this appears to be at ground level. You can see mosaic floors and floor layouts / walls.
The last area is the collosseum / amphitheatre. Whilst much is intact we were told part of the upper wall area has been rebuilt. I was surprised that much of it is in tact and that you can walk around the corridors freely, we were even taken to the underground part. I was not expecting this and was pleased we could go down there, although there isn't as much to see as there is at El Djem.
The whole site has recently been opened to visitors as entrance fees go toward further excavations. It is a great place to visit, made all the more enjoyable by the fact that it's not one of the main tourist attractions so was very quite - quite often our tour was the only group there.
We would have liked more time to fully explore the site as our tour felt rather rushed. It is a very interesting place, remember to bring a camera as there are loads of fantastic photo opportunities.
Points to note are:
The toilets are located by the temple which was the first part of the tour and there are no facilities at the amphitheatre which was the last part.
There is a stall selling drinks by the temple but no other places on site.
It is very hot on this site, especially in elevated areas. Whilst you can go to some shaded areas, it is a good idea to take a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
Wear comfy / flat shoes as the
Definitely come here for a visit if you can, it was one of the highlights of our holiday.
We saw some of the Roman aquaduct remains on the way there, this transported water from the Water Temple in the mountains to Carthidge / Tunis. Then we went to the Uthina site which is very impressive - so much to see!
We started off at the temple / forum site, going up the steps you see the pillars and then get some great views of the surrounding area and other sites from the high platform area. Descend the steps to go underneath this building. You are free to explore the rooms and corridors.
The next part of the site were the public baths, where you can go down some steps (abit wobbly!) to the basement areas which you can look around.
The private baths were next, this appears to be at ground level. You can see mosaic floors and floor layouts / walls.
The last area is the collosseum / amphitheatre. Whilst much is intact we were told part of the upper wall area has been rebuilt. I was surprised that much of it is in tact and that you can walk around the corridors freely, we were even taken to the underground part. I was not expecting this and was pleased we could go down there, although there isn't as much to see as there is at El Djem.
The whole site has recently been opened to visitors as entrance fees go toward further excavations. It is a great place to visit, made all the more enjoyable by the fact that it's not one of the main tourist attractions so was very quite - quite often our tour was the only group there.
We would have liked more time to fully explore the site as our tour felt rather rushed. It is a very interesting place, remember to bring a camera as there are loads of fantastic photo opportunities.
Points to note are:
The toilets are located by the temple which was the first part of the tour and there are no facilities at the amphitheatre which was the last part.
There is a stall selling drinks by the temple but no other places on site.
It is very hot on this site, especially in elevated areas. Whilst you can go to some shaded areas, it is a good idea to take a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
Wear comfy / flat shoes as the
Definitely come here for a visit if you can, it was one of the highlights of our holiday.
Written 12 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is the best way to get there from Tunis?
Written 2 August 2018
From Tunis by Train going to el kef there's a station not far or by taxi
Written 30 November 2019
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