Basilica of Saint Augustine
A nineteenth-century basilica on the hill above Hippo, holding a relic of Augustine.
Updated 18 October 2026
The basilica of Saint Augustine stands on the hill above the ruins of Hippo Regius, built between 1881 and 1900 in a Byzantine-influenced manner with a dome, arcades and a tall tower, and visible across Annaba and the gulf. It was raised to mark the city's association with Augustine, who was bishop of Hippo, and it holds a relic said to be a bone of his arm, returned from Pavia in Italy where his remains were taken centuries after his death. The interior is decorated with coloured marble, mosaic and a large statue. It remains a functioning Catholic church with a small congregation and is maintained by a religious community, and the terrace looks down over the excavations.
History
Work on the basilica began in 1881 under the Abbé Pougnet and was finished on 29 March 1900, and it was dedicated to Saint Augustine of Hippo on 24 April 1914, near the remains of the Basilica Pacis that Augustine himself built and where he died while the Vandals besieged the city. In 1842 part of his right arm, the ulna, had been brought from Pavia back to Bône, as Annaba was then called, and it now rests in a glass tube set into the arm of a life-size marble statue of the saint inside the basilica, which belongs to the Diocese of Constantine (Wikipedia, Basilica of Saint Augustine - Annaba).
Highlights
- The domed basilica of 1900 - Byzantine-influenced building on the hill.
- The relic of Augustine - the bone returned from Pavia.
- Marble and mosaic interior - the decoration of the nave.
- The terrace over Hippo - the excavations seen from above.
When to go
October to May. One to two hours, combined with the Hippo site below. Opening is around services and visits are welcomed; dress modestly.
Things to know
It is a working church with a very small congregation and opening depends on the community. There is no formal ticketing or interpretation. The exterior has weathered and restoration has been slow. Taxis are the practical way up.
Nearby
Hippo Regius is directly below; Annaba lies north.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q1015167, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Basilica of Saint Augustine
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- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
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