Roman remains in Tunisia

Tunisia is a treasure trove of spectacular Roman remains, says Frank Partridge in the Independent. Chief among them are three abandoned cities – Thuburbo Majus, Sbeitla and Dougga – each of which is extraordinary in its own way.

The best preserved is Dougga, "so solidly constructed that people lived in it until the 1950s". It has a majestic capitol, a fine amphitheatre and a "Wind Square", where the names and directions of the winds that blew across the surrounding plains are carved into the paving.

Greater than all these cities, of course, was the sea-port of Carthage – but little more than rubble remains of it today. Still,

having seen the others, it's not hard to imagine how majestic it must have been.

Wigmore Holidays (0208 994 1011) offers an eight-day Roman Tunisia tour for £1,045pp.