Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the largest and best preserved Roman site in the whole of Morocco. It is also the setting for some of the scenes from Martin Scorsese's blockbuster movie "The Last Temptation of Christ". We visited this site in December 2005 and we're stunned by the beauty of the numerous mosaics on site, left in their original locations. The site lies 33km from Meknes and sits on a plateau, surrounded by gorgous fertile plains of green. The imposing ridges of the Zerhoun Mountains, under which lies the sacred Islamic city of Moulay Idriss, frame this beautiful valley. Volubilis is known as one of the Roman Empire's most remote outposts, perched on the north-west corner of North Africa, at the furthest reaches of the Mediterrean. Despite repeated attempted by the various Roman emperors, they were never successful in penetrating the Atlas Mountains and subduing the Berber tribes.

The site was annexed by the Roman Empire in AD 40 but had been occupied by Carthaginian traders since the 3rd century BC. Much of the plains around Volubilis were physically altered by its inhabitants, with massive deforestation and clearing, to allow the planting of massive fields of wheat and olive groves.

The site is known to have a total population of approximately 20,000 people at the peak of its growth. The majority of its magnificent public buildings, such as the triumphal arch, the capitol, the baths and the basilica were built between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.

It is unknown exactly why the Romans decided to give up this prosperous outpost. The predominant theory is that the Romans gave into pressure from the neighbouring Berber tribes, which had begun to re-assert themselves through various small skirmishes. Another more reasonable theory is that the Romans were feeling overstretched in the responsibilities of Empire and pulled back from some of their furthest outposts to secure other more vital territories.

Despite the absence of the Roman populace, Volubilis continued to be inhabited by Latin speakers, namely the Berbers, Greeks, Jews and Syrians, until the arrival of Islam which saw the introduction of Arabic. The site was inhabited up to the 18th century, when it was unfortunately plundered by the slaves of Moulay Ismail for his imperial palace.