El Jem: Attractions and more...
The most impressive and dominant feature at El-Jem is the ancient Roman Amphitheatre. It is the largest colosseum in North Africa. This 3rd century monument could hold up to 35,000 spectators and was mainly used for gladiator shows and chariot races
Explore the huge corridors under the ground floor of the amphitheatre. It was from here that the gladiators entered the arena. You’ll also see the smaller side rooms where animals were held before the fights. There are two other smaller, older amphitheatres known in the city too.
Every year in July-August the town hosts the El Jem International Symphonic Festival. Held in the Roman colosseum, it features famous orchestras and classical artists.
The El Jem Museum displays the city’s rich roman past. Its exhibits of mosaics, coins, terra cotta tiles, sculptures, etc. are all excavated form the near by roman sites.
The drifting sands still preserve the ancient market city of Thysdrus and the refined suburban villas that once surrounded it. An example of this is the excavated remains of Roman merchant houses.
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