This is not the Roman Colosseum, though we'd forgive you for thinking so.

This is the magnificent Amphitheatre of El Jem, in the heart of Tunisia. Built around 180 AD, during the Roman era, it could accommodate an astonishing 35,000 spectators—who came to watch gladiatorial combats, chariot races, and battles involving wild animals.

What makes El Jem even more incredible is how remarkably well preserved it remains. Unlike the Colosseum in Rome, much of its original structure is still standing, offering a breathtaking glimpse into the grandeur of Roman Africa nearly 1,800 years later.

And here’s the twist: one of the largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world is not in Rome… it’s in Tunisia.

Standing quietly in the small town of El Jem, this monumental piece of the Roman Empire is a reminder that Tunisia was once a major and prosperous part of the Roman world.

Forget Rome. El Jem might just be the colosseum you actually need to see