Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia

© Westend61/Getty Image

A 'standing ovation' to Roman architecture. Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia

The Amphitheatre of El Jem is a fascinating historical site located in the Tunisian town of El Jem, known as Thysdrus in Roman times. Constructed in the 3rd century CE during the Roman Empire, the Amphitheatre of El Jem is renowned for its impressive architecture. It was built using stone blocks, had a capacity to accommodate up to 35,000 spectators and is still one of the largest amphitheatres in the world today. The amphitheatre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of Roman amphitheatres in the world, almost equal in grandeur and architecture to the Colosseum in Rome.

Beneath the arena, there is an extensive underground network of tunnels and chambers, which are open to visitors! Despite its age, the arena floor is still preserved and visitors can walk on it, gaining a sense of what it must have been like for ancient performers.