El Jem Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
Tunisian town
About El Jem
El Jem used to be the Roman town of Thysdrus, one of the most important towns in North Africa afterCarthage(now to be found in the suburbs of modernTunis). The amphitheater was built around the middle of the 3rd century CE and was thought to house up to 35,000 spectators. Having fallen into some state of disrepair, its blocks being used for building the surrounding town and also contributing to the Great Mosque inKairouan, the amphitheatre was declared a World Heritage site in 1979. In 1999, it was used for filming some of the scenes from the Oscar-winning filmGladiator. The site features one of the cleanest public bathrooms in Tunisia, located about 150 m to the right of the entrance.
Top Attractions in El Jem
Explore the best things to see and do in El Jem:
- ★Amphitheater
- ★El Jem Museum
Where to Stay in El Jem
- 🏨Hotel Julius
El Jem Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: