A Roman amphitheatre rivalling the Colosseum
The amphitheatre of El Jem, ancient Thysdrus, was built in the third century and could hold around 35,000 spectators, making it one of the largest in the Roman world. It is remarkably intact: you can walk its arcades, climb the tiers and go down into the passages beneath the arena where animals and gladiators waited. The town's museum displays superb mosaics from local villas. Summer evenings bring a classical music festival to the arena.