埃尔杰姆圆形剧场(El Djem Amphitheatre)坐落在突尼斯中部荒原的埃尔杰姆(El Djem)小镇,始建于公元238年。作为北非地区规模最大的古罗马遗迹,它被联合国教科文组织在1979年列入首批世界文化遗产名录。这座完全由石块垒砌的建筑长148米,宽122米,即便跨越近两千年的风霜,其结构依然保存得比罗马斗兽场更为完整。对于追求沉浸式历史感的旅行者来说,这里最吸引人的地方在于它几乎没有栏杆围挡,允许你自由出入看台和地下密道。
埃尔杰姆斗兽场在建造之初是为了彰显罗马帝国在阿非利加行省的繁荣。其观众席层叠而上,最高处达36米,在当时可以轻松容纳35000名观众。这个数字在今天看来也许普通,但在公元三世纪,这几乎相当于一座中型城市的所有人口。相比于罗马斗兽场的混合材质,埃尔杰姆完全由精细切割的砂岩构成,没有任何混凝土支撑,全靠石块间的力学结构维持至今。站在椭圆形竞技场中央抬头环视,你会被那种密不透风的围合感震慑,仿佛能听到当年观众席上传来的呐喊。
不同于其他被地震毁坏的古遗迹,埃尔杰姆的大部分坍塌其实是人为拆除石块去建造村庄或清真寺导致的。这种耐造的石材赋予了剧场绝佳的收音效果。如果在清晨游客稀少时站在场地正中心大声说话,回音会清晰地传到最顶层的拱门。剧场内分布着多层拱廊,这种分流设计使得数万观众能在极短时间内通过各级台阶疏散,这种动线逻辑即便在现代体育场馆设计中依然被沿用。
很多游客只在看台拍照,却忽略了竞技场正下方的两条十字形长廊。这是埃尔杰姆最令人着迷的角落,也是当年囚禁猛兽和角斗士的地方。顺着狭窄的台阶走下去,气温瞬间会下降好几度,空气中透着一股潮湿的泥土气。你会看到一间间低矮的石室,天花板上留有方形孔洞,那是当年用来升降野兽笼子的机关。在没有现代照明的情况下,很难想象那些角斗士在面对死亡前,是如何在这些幽暗的密室里度过最后的时光。
现在的埃尔杰姆剧场允许游客攀爬至三层看台。这里的楼梯陡峭且高度不一,爬起来确实有点费腿,建议穿防滑的平底鞋。当你到达最顶端的一排拱门,视线会豁然开朗。剧场四周并没有高大的现代建筑,放眼望去是突尼斯中部典型的低矮白墙平房和连绵的橄榄林。这种古今同框的画面很有视觉张力。如果你在下午四点以后到达,柔和的夕阳会把泛黄的石墙染成金橘色,那是出片率最高的时候。
距离斗兽场步行约15分钟的地方,藏着一个绝对不该被错过的埃尔杰姆考古博物馆。这里收集了周边出土的大量马赛克拼贴画。这些作品大都来自当年的罗马豪宅,画面生动记录了狩猎、神话故事和当时的日常生活。比起斗兽场的宏大叙事,这些精细到发丝的马赛克展示了古罗马人极其讲究的生活情趣。这里的门票通常与斗兽场联票销售,千万别因为怕走路而错失这些稀世珍宝。
说到交通,大多数人会选择从苏塞(Sousse)或斯法克斯(Sfax)出发。搭乘突尼斯国铁(SNCFT)的火车是最舒适的选择。从苏塞火车站出发,车程大约1小时,单程票价不到10突尼斯第纳尔。需要留心的是,突尼斯火车的准点率比较随缘,建议下载其官网APP查看实时班次。如果想更灵活一些,可以去车站附近的Louage(拼车小巴)站,这种白色小巴满人即走,速度比火车快,能让你更早抵达景区以避开旅行团。
埃尔杰姆属于半干旱地带,夏天的正午阳光非常毒辣。因为整个剧场几乎没有遮阳处,最好的参观时间是早上8:30开门即入,或者是闭馆前两小时。目前成人联票价格大约为12突尼斯第纳尔,如果需要拍照录像,现场可能需要额外支付1第纳尔的摄影费。由于景区内只有小型售卖水的小摊,建议出发前在超市买好充足的饮用水。走完整个剧场加博物馆,预留3小时左右的时间最为充裕。
一张门票的价格通常为12突尼斯第纳尔,它不仅包含了圆形剧场本身的入场资格,还涵盖了附近的埃尔杰姆考古博物馆。建议先看剧场,之后凭票根步行或打车前往博物馆参观,无需重复购票。
非常方便,两地相距约70公里。你可以选乘火车或Louage(拼车小巴),火车单程约1小时,小巴则根据坐满人的速度而定。火车站离斗兽场仅有不到500米的距离,下车后步行几分钟即可到达。
深度游览整个斗兽场(包括地下室和顶部看台)大约需要1.5至2小时。如果算上步行去博物馆以及欣赏精美马赛克的时间,建议整体预留3至4小时。如果是特意从其他城市赶来,安排大半天的行程最为合适。
目前游客可以携带手机和普通相机进入并自由拍摄,景区一般会象征性收取1突尼斯第纳尔的摄影费。禁止使用无人机拍摄,除非提前获得政府的特别许可。看台部分区域没有护栏,拍照时需留意脚下安全,不要跨越红线区域。
Sergey Huba Amazing place. Spend almost an hour here. It’s really huge and you can go everywhere, including basement and pretty much all the way to the top. Highly highly recommended! Entry price was 12 dinars.
Sergey Huba Amazing place. Spend almost an hour here. It’s really huge and you can go everywhere, including basement and pretty much all the way to the top. Highly highly recommended! Entry price was 12 dinars.
Harry's Wanderlust One of the best preserved roman amphitheaters in the world and a must-see in El Jem. Be sure to climb the stairs up to the top, to get a full overview and also visit the areas below ground level. What an awesome archaeological site. We loved it.
Harry's Wanderlust One of the best preserved roman amphitheaters in the world and a must-see in El Jem. Be sure to climb the stairs up to the top, to get a full overview and also visit the areas below ground level. What an awesome archaeological site. We loved it.
Sérgio Rossini The amphitheater is worth every kilometer traveled to get there. Its sheer size is unbelievable. Corridors, stairs, tunnels—everything is available to explore, offering an incredible view of El Jem. It’s truly worth the visit. I went in the late afternoon and enjoyed the golden hues of the structure and a spectacular sunset from the stands. To fully appreciate the site, you’ll need at least an hour for a relaxed visit, including time to pause and take it all in. It’s like traveling back in time, imagining everything that must have happened there 2,200 years ago. Pure joy!
Sérgio Rossini The amphitheater is worth every kilometer traveled to get there. Its sheer size is unbelievable. Corridors, stairs, tunnels—everything is available to explore, offering an incredible view of El Jem. It’s truly worth the visit. I went in the late afternoon and enjoyed the golden hues of the structure and a spectacular sunset from the stands. To fully appreciate the site, you’ll need at least an hour for a relaxed visit, including time to pause and take it all in. It’s like traveling back in time, imagining everything that must have happened there 2,200 years ago. Pure joy!
Steven Kemp Wonderfully preserved Roman coliseum which was built around 1,800 years ago, and could hold around 35,000 spectators. The access is great, as you can go everywhere, from standing in the central arena, to standing at the highest tiers. You can even access the underground tunnels and cells, which I found amazing. Entrance cost us 8 tnd each, which is great value for money, and the toilets were clean, and free. Well worth a visit.
Steven Kemp Wonderfully preserved Roman coliseum which was built around 1,800 years ago, and could hold around 35,000 spectators. The access is great, as you can go everywhere, from standing in the central arena, to standing at the highest tiers. You can even access the underground tunnels and cells, which I found amazing. Entrance cost us 8 tnd each, which is great value for money, and the toilets were clean, and free. Well worth a visit.