Chemtou

Simitthus at Chemtou was where the Romans quarried numidicum, the yellow and pink marble known in Italy as giallo antico, which was shipped across the empire for columns and floors and was one of the most prized stones of the ancient world. The quarry faces, the worker settlement, a Numidian sanctuary on the hill and a bridge over the Medjerda survive, and a German-built site museum is among the best presented in Tunisia.

Highlights

• The marble quarries - the faces where giallo antico was cut for the empire.
• The site museum - a well-presented display on the quarry, the marble and the workers.
• The Numidian sanctuary - the pre-Roman monument on the hill above the quarries.
• The Medjerda bridge - the Roman crossing of the river below the site.

When to go

October to May is comfortable. The museum keeps regular hours and is worth the visit on its own. Winter here can be wet.

Good to know

The quarry faces themselves are less immediately impressive than the museum. The site is spread out over a hillside. It is remote and public transport is poor.

Nearby

Bulla Regia is east, and Jendouba is south.

Key facts