Algeria submits Augustinian itineraries file to UNESCO for international recognition

This project aims to highlight Algeria's rich civilizational heritage, spanning nearly 1,500 kilometers across ancient cities in eastern and central Algeria. The itineraries connect invaluable archaeological sites and historical monuments, including Hippone Annaba, Calama Guelma, Thagaste Souk Ahras, and Sitifis Sétif. These routes unite cities around the shared legacy of Numidian and Romano-African civilization, which gave birth to Saint Augustine of Hippo.

The newly established National Commission comprises experts in archaeology, history, anthropology, and heritage valorization. Its missions include coordinating with national bodies and UNESCO, developing strategies to position these itineraries as a global cultural destination, supervising conservation programs for archaeological sites, and encouraging scientific research to deepen understanding of this heritage. Born in 354 AD in Thagaste present-day Souk Ahras, Aurelius Augustinus, known as Saint Augustine, was an influential intellectual and spiritual figure.

As Bishop of Hippo, philosopher, theologian, and author of "Confessions" and "The City of God," his thought bridged continents, centuries, and religions. Algeria claims this universal figure as a jewel of its civiliza