The Colosseum in El Jem was deservedly called the "crown of Africa". The monument, created in the II century, visually resembles a headdress of a person of royal blood.
A bit of history
The Colosseum was built in the period 230-238. During the heyday of the Roman Empire, the lords were worried about the riots committed in most provinces, including Tunisia. Following the unshakable rules of "bread and circuses", Gordian I, who holds the post of proconsul of Africa, began to build a grandiose arena for gladiator fights by those standards.
An even place was chosen for the construction (but not a slope, as was then customary). Sandstone delivered from Salakta was used for the construction. The structure was able to accommodate about 30,000 people, and some tourists come here from other countries for the spectacular spectacle.
Why is the Colosseum interesting?
The popularity of this cultural heritage is due to several reasons:
- The Colosseum in El Jem is truly a Colosseum, which is capable of competing in its grandeur even with the popular Roman Colosseum.
- In its years, this Colosseum was officially the third largest in the entire Roman Empire.
- The Colosseum is a member of UNESCO.
It is here that everyone can feel like a fearless gladiator in a battle arena, try on the role of an ordinary spectator on the podium, or imagine himself in the place of the emperor in a special box. Also, tourists can go down to the lower rooms and inspect the cameras for animals and fighters, or climb higher, exploring the galleries.
But many tourists recommend visiting the Colosseum in July or August, because that's when you can enjoy the sounds of classical music performed by the most popular orchestras in Europe.
What to see
Acquaintance with this historical monument begins just before the city itself: the fact is that the Colosseum rises strongly above the one-two-story buildings of the Tunisian hinterland. All paths in the city, of course, lead to the Colosseum, so you cannot get lost and lose the way here.
The entrance to the structure itself is located from the south, and it is from this entrance that a view of the entire structure opens up - it's time to use the camera. After the amphitheater, you can look at the galleries and go straight to the arena with dimensions of 114 x 118 meters.
And it is from the arena that the very view for which everyone comes here opens up - these are endless tiers of spectators' stands, the emperor's box, corridors and many rooms underground. They contain chambers in which animals and fighters awaited the death or finest hour.
Information for tourists: opening hours, excursions, how to get there
The Colosseum is located in El Jem, Tunisia. Works from 1.05 to 15.09 from 7:30 to 19:00. In winter, it is open from 8 am to 5:30 pm. Entrance costs 10 TND, but children under 12 can enter the tour for free. If the excursion will use a camera, you will need to pay 1 TND for it. This does not apply to smartphones and tablets. These and other rules should be studied in advance on the official website and use maps when traveling.
