Hightlight
- Historical Site / Monument
The Amphitheatre of El Jem is a colossal monument to Roman engineering that rises unexpectedly from the flat, olive-tree-dotted plains of central Tunisia. As one of the largest and best-preserved Roman arenas in the world, its soaring stone arches dominate the surrounding modern town, looking almost as they did 1,800 years ago. You can explore the vast underground passages where gladiators and wild animals once waited, or climb to the highest tiers of the arena for a panoramic view of the structure’s immense scale. The arena once held 35,000 spectators, and the acoustics are so perfect that you can still imagine the roar of the crowds. It is a haunting and majestic site that offers a more intimate and less crowded experience than the Colosseum in Rome.
- Where it is: In the town of El Jem, central Tunisia.
- What you can expect to see: Underground gladiator chambers, soaring tiers of seats, and exquisite mosaics.
- How much it is to get in: ~12 TND (approx. $4 USD).
- What people say: Visitors often say it’s ‘better than the Colosseum’ because it’s less crowded and more accessible.
- Interesting fact: It was used as a filming location for *Gladiator* and *Monty Python’s Life of Brian*.
