top of page

El Jem & Kairouan

 Explore El Jem & Kairouan The Holy City

  • Offered Daily

  • 8 Hours

  • From 110 (price varies by group size)

Read More
Image by Malek Boukhris

Tour description

Departure to Kairouan the holy city from your Tunis accommodation. The visit starts with the last two 9th century Aghlabite Basins which were among the greatest waterworks of the middle Ages. The basins are seen from the top of the Tourist Information Building and they form an introduction to the foundation of Kairouan and its glorious age.

 

Proceed to visit the 7th century Great Okba Mosque, the oldest one in North Africa. The clients will appreciate the powerful and beautiful expression of faith inherent in the 9th century building. Proceed to the nearby Sidi Sahbi, to visit the 17th-19th century building with its minaret & beautiful courtyards lined with green-blue tile work & white plaster stucco. Then time will be given for individual discovery & shopping at the Medina followed by a Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, drive to El Jem’s amphitheatre the main attraction and one of Tunisia’s most often visited sites. This monumental amphitheatre, built in the mid 3rd century AD (230-240 AD), is the largest Roman monument left in Africa, and ranks 3rd in the Empire after those of Rome and Verona.  Being one of the last large amphitheatres built during the Roman era, its architectural design is an improvement over that of the Coliseum of Rome, though it is not a great deal smaller. 

After that, re-board your coach and drive to to EL JEM MUSEUM, Specialists recommend a visit to this museum before visiting other vestiges of the ancient city of Thysdrus. The museum contains many architectonic elements that belonged to the decoration of the city’s superb villas and public buildings and in particular, the sumptuous mosaic pavements, undoubtedly amongst the finest of Roman antiquity.

bottom of page