While Tunis is the evocative and official capital of Tunisia, Kairouan is the undoubtedly the spiritual capital of the country. Kairouan was founded by Okba Ibn Nafaa thirteen centuries ago as the first Islamic city in the Maghreb. Today, though it has retained the peace of aprovincial town, it boasts one of the Muslim world’s most prestigious monuments, the Great Mosque of Sidi Okba. Built only of plain bricks, marble and cedar wood, it features beautiful gilded ceramic works, an art practiced by 9th century Kairouan craftsmen. Nearby, the last two of the 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 form an introduction to the foundation of Kairouan and its glorious age.