About This Site
Sbeïtla Archaeological Site is, in part, integrated into the city of Sbeïtla which, nearly a millennium and a half later, succeeded it as one of the main cities of the Upper Steppe.
Even if the toponym Sufetula indicates a much earlier foundation, the remains unearthed on the site do not date back any earlier than the 1st century AD.
The city seems to have experienced under Septimius Severus (2nd – 3rd century) an era of great prosperity which continued until under Diocletian (285 – 305). It is from this period that the main buildings still visible date: houses, forum, temples, baths, triumphal gate, theater, etc.
In the absence of inscriptions to inform us about the different stages of the city’s past, the discovery of late vestiges, from the Lower Empire or from the Vandal and Byzantine periods, reflects the great vitality of the Christian community within these walls, which became preponderant on the eve of the Arab conquest, in 647, which put an end to Africa’s membership of the Christian world and signed its attachment to the Islamic empire, after the defeat of Patrice Grégoire who reigned over a kingdom which had taken its distances from Constantinople and which had Sufetula as its capital instead of Carthage.
The Sufetula site is the first to have been equipped with dynamic lighting and complete signage.
Situation
Center
To See
site
museum
Opening Hours :
From 16/09 to 31/05:08.00-17.30
From 01/06 to 15/09:08.00-19.00
Ramadan Schedule
8:00-17:00
Entrance fees
8 TND
Remarks
The museum is closed on Mondays
Amenities
Bathroom
Shop
Cafeteria
Sbeitla Archaeological Site in Photos
Where to Find Sbeitla Archaeological Site
Discover in Video
Frequently Asked Questions
Sbeitla corresponds to the ancient Roman city of Sufetula, an important provincial town that reached its peak in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD under the Severan dynasty. It is particularly known for its remarkably well-preserved Capitol complex with three intact temples standing side by side.
In 647 AD, the Arab army of Abd Allah ibn Sa'd defeated the Byzantine prefect Patrice Grégoire at or near Sbeitla, an event often cited as the decisive first Arab military campaign into the Maghreb and the beginning of Islamic North Africa.
The three Capitol temples dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, standing on a raised podium, are extraordinarily well preserved. Also notable are the triumphal arches, the Great Baths, several Byzantine churches built within the Roman ruins, and a large theatre.
Sbeitla is in central Tunisia, about 250 kilometres southwest of Tunis and 35 kilometres east of Kasserine. Buses and louages connect to Kasserine, from which the site is a short drive or taxi ride. The site is also a standard stop on organised Roman Tunisia tours.
Entry is approximately 8 TND. The site is open year-round and benefits from the clear skies of central Tunisia, making it particularly photogenic at sunrise and sunset.
Allow two to three hours to cover the main monuments. The site is relatively flat and walkable, though the midday heat in summer can be intense - morning visits are recommended.
