24 January 22, 2016 Travel www.thearabweekly.com Agenda Beirut: Until February 8th The Sursock Museum in Beirut, Regards sur Beyrouth: 160 ans d’images 1800-1960, an exhibition that brings together more than 200 rarely seen works from private col- lections, including paintings, photographs and etchings. The exhibition traces Beirut’s historical evolution from a provincial Ottoman town to the capital of a nation state. Algiers: Until February 11th The National Museum of Contemporary Art in Algiers hosts its seventh International Festival of Contemporary Art. Artists from Greece, France, Brazil, Morocco, Mali, Algeria, El Djem Amphitheatre from the outside. Congo, Senegal and other countries are participating in the 2016 event. Dubai: Majestic Roman amphitheatre Until April 9th Global Village is the largest seasonal cultural extravaganza stands out in Tunisia’s El Djem in the region. Visitors can enjoy an array of festivals, shopping and entertainment in an open-air theme park. The Roua Khlifi archaeologist. entertainment and shopping The Amphitheatre of El Djem is destination hosts more than a monument built entirely of stone 70 participating countries with El Djem, Tunisia blocks without foundations. It is presentations in more than believed to be modelled after the three dozen pavilions. There s visitors approach El coliseum in Rome with much of its are more than 50 fun rides and Djem, or Thysdrus as it original structure preserved. 26 restaurants offering food was known in Roman The El Djem amphitheatre is dis- from around the world. times, the remains of tinguished from the other Roman an amphitheatre tower amphitheatres in that it was con- aboveA the village. Columns and structed in stone block; other am- Dubai: arches of stone appear on the hori- phitheatres were built using bricks February 10th-13th zon over the landscape. The rest of or pieces of stones. Another char- the village sits peacefully around acteristic feature is that it was able The Great Moscow State the majestic Roman amphithea- to host more than 30,000 specta- Circus and producer Centre of tre that once hosted the combat tors. Zapashny Brothers presents games of gladiators. “The El Djem amphitheatre was the UFO Circus from Another El Djem invites visitors to stroll built around the middle of the Planet for the first time in in its most important sites, namely third century. It was believed to Dubai. Featuring aerial gym- the amphitheatre and the museum be constructed as a gift from the nasts, trapeze artists to skat- of El Djem, both testifying to the emperor to the town people,” Ben ers, jumpers and more, the richness of the history of the town. Lazreg said. programme follows the story Over centuries, El Djem has trans- of a man who is abducted by formed itself from a setting of bat- El Djem is the aliens. As he comes to terms tles to a venue of concerts and the with what’s happening, he prestigious International Festival home to the experiences a new way of life. of Symphonic Music. Walls that largest building The event will take place in once echoed the screams of dy- Dubai World Trade Centre ing men, the roars of wild animals in Roman Africa. and the cheers and cries of despair of crowds now resonate with the Over the centuries, the am- Beirut: sounds of violins, pianos and the phitheatre was subject to many February 16th-March 20th applause of the audience. changes and played a role in sev- About 210km south of Tunis, El eral battles. During the Islamic Al Bustan International Festi- Djem is the home to the largest conquest of North Africa, Berber val of Music and the Perform- building in Roman Africa. The am- queen Kahina took refuge in the ing Arts is a musical celebra- phitheatre represented a symbol amphitheatre using it as a fortress. tion that takes place over five of the power and prosperity of the In 1695, villagers revolted against weeks in various venues in Roman Empire. In 1979, the am- ruler Bey Mohammed II and also Beirut with an emphasis on phitheatre was placed on the list of found a temporary home in the chamber music. The festival UNESCO World Heritage sites. amphitheatre. Dancers of the State Opera Ballet of Vienna performing during the El Djem International Festival of Symphonic Music. promotes and celebrates mu- “The amphitheatre is one of “We know that up till the sixth sic from all over the world and the oldest and biggest ruins in century, the amphitheatre kept its includes orchestral concerts, North Africa. In Egypt we have the stairs intact according to the writ- 19th century, revolutionary Ali Ben the museum imitates the layout of choral music, puppets, opera pharaonic pyramids but the big- ings of Arab historian al-Bakri, Ghedhahem took refuge in the am- the villa with a central courtyard and dance. gest and most impressive one of all who described the stairs in their phitheatre; Berber queen Kahina leading to rooms displaying sculp- amphitheatres in North African re- original structure. It wasn’t until also used it for the same purpose…. tures and mosaics. gion is that of El Djem. It is also one the year 1695 that the western wall “Romans knew that they needed It features mosaic pavements Tafraoute, Morocco: of the largest amphitheatres of the was destroyed,” Ben Lazreg said. to keep people distracted to keep that are considered to be among March 6th-8th Roman empire after that of Rome,” “The amphitheatre had a history them away from politics. They in- the finest of Roman ruins. The said Nejib Ben Lazreg, a Tunisian of being used as a fortress. In the vested money and effort to pay for House of Africa is considered an The Almond Blossom Festival, these shows where amphitheatres aristocratic dwelling built around celebrated every early spring were used for combat shows. The 170AD and only discovered in the in Morocco, sees villagers shows were held every couple of 1990s. The dwelling contains a se- celebrate harvest time with days as was the custom of follow- ries of mosaics, one of which is be- Berber dancing, singing and ing the capital. The shows would lieved to be the only known repre- almond tasting. International last a day under the patronage of a sentation of its kind of the African musicians and actors min- local governor or magistrate,” Ben continent. gle with local performers to Lazreg added. The town of El Djem offers visi- produce live events based on “In the morning, they started tors a thrilling journey through the Moroccan folklore. with fights between savage ani- history of its a rich narrative of the mals, then they would showcase iconic monument. The El Djem In- We welcome submissions of the prey of huntsmen. During the ternational Festival of Symphonic calendar items related to midday break, they exposed the Music, featuring renowned orches- cultural events of interest outlaws to wild animals that were tras, adds to the lure by offering a starving. As for the afternoon, it memorable night of music in the to travellers in the Middle consisted of battles between the cradle of a rich history. East and North Africa. gladiators. If a gladiator survived five to six shows, he could obtain Roua Khlifi is a regular Travel and Please send tips to: his freedom.” Culture contributor for The Arab [email protected] Inside view of El Djem Amphitheatre. Built on the site of a Roman villa, Weekly. She is based in Tunis..