Next stop was El Djem with its unbelievable Amphitheatre second only to Rome’s (Colosseum) amphitheatre. It is huge, capable of seating 35,000 spectators (Rome’s Colosseum could seat about 45,000), and was probably used for gladiator shows and chariot races. Very. very impressive….sitting on a stone seat…ready to give the “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” signal…envisioning Ben Hur or Spartacus entering the arena. View image…

The El Djem Amphitheatre (built around 238 AD), remained fairly intact until the 17th century and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1979.

El Djem Amphitheatre
When built by the Romans, stone was brought from quarries over 30 kms away. The distance doesn’t sound like much now but it was a huge feat at that time.

El Djem Amphitheatre

Other things to see around El Djem? There were some very nice “antique shops” on the street outside the Amphitheatre but we didn’t have enough time to really get into the power-shopping mode. (Some buyer’s remorse over the lack of time.) Other than that, nothing. Moving on to Sfax…

Sfax, is the economic center of Tunisia and a Mediterranean port on the Gulf of Gabes. It has a big Souk with an impressive gateway, and towering walls lead to the mosque in the center. In Tunisia, only Tunis has more inhabitants.

More Souk time with an overnight stay at Hotel Dounia. Tunisia has been amazing up to now and I can’t even imagine what Matmata will be like…Obi-Wan Kenobi…we’re coming…

Unbelievably low fares on Air France right here.