The City of El Jem lies between Sfax and Sousse, roughly fifty kilometers from each . This town is world-famous for its massive amphitheater . It is the largest Roman building still standing in Tunisia . Remarkably, its size even surpasses the famous arenas of Arles and Nîmes . In ancient times, El Jem was one of the wealthiest cities in the East . Consequently, its prestigious history left many visible traces .
El Jem is home to the third largest amphitheater in the Roman world . Only Capua and Rome had larger ones . UNESCO listed this site as a World Heritage Site in the late 1970s . The amphitheater stands in the heart of a concentric square . Restaurants and souvenir shops surround it.
Visiting the The City of El Jem Amphitheater and Museum
As visitors walk through the entrance doors, they feel gripped by the Colosseum’s size . It is an architectural monster measuring nearly 150 meters long, 36 meters high and 124 meters wide . In antiquity, the site could hold nearly 40,000 spectators . This is barely less than the Colosseum in Rome, which held 45,000 people . The El Jem amphitheater was built in the 3rd century AD . Since its restoration, it has hosted the International Festival of Symphonic Music every year . This event is unmissable for appreciating the monument’s grandeur.
A stone’s throw from the Colosseum, visitors can also explore the El Jem Museum . It retraces the entire history of the ancient city . The museum houses many exhibition rooms . These display reconstructions, mosaics, and other remains . Archaeologists discovered these artifacts in the surrounding region . Ultimately, El Jem offers an unforgettable journey through Tunisia’s Roman heritage.
The city of El Jem in Video
Where to Go in The city of El Jem
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