Nora - part II

The structure of the archaeological site bears witness to the various historical phases the city experienced. In fact, the nucleus of the city is constituted by stratified dwelling complexes, built in successive eras on top of pre-existing structures. Thus, the ancient Punic quarter, where the absence of a precise urban plan is reminiscent of the North African “casbahs”, was the foundation on which the Romans built. In this way, they also contributed to preserving important vestiges of their predecessors’ civilisation, such as the necropolis and the temples of Eshmum and Tanit.
However, most of the structures which can still be seen today date back to the II-III centuries AD, and therefore to the Roman era. The most important ruins are the remains of the Forum, the andesite floor and the various thermal baths (Terme di Levante, Terme Centrali, Piccole Terme, Terme a mare), as well as the terrace of the temple of Esculapio, from the IV century AD, and a noble family’s villa with an atrium framed by four white columns, known as the “House with the tetrastyle atrium”. The whole area is characterised by the splendid mosaics which decorate the main buildings and which would appear to be inspired by African models with the almost exclusive use of white, black and ochre.

However, the real symbol of Nora is the Roman theatre, an impressive semicircular structure which overlooks the sea. The front of the orchestra is arranged in niches, while between the stage and the cavea there are large vases, which were probably designed to amplify voices. Thanks to careful organisation, during the summer this unique and fascinating setting, steeped in culture and history, provides the stage for the much acclaimed arts festival “La notte dei poeti”.

The voices of the artists and singers are accompanied by the sound of the waves gently lapping the surrounding shores and by the songs of the crickets and seagulls, while the whole scene is lit up by moonlight, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

<< Previous