It has been the capital of Tunisia without interruption since the Almohads gave it this title in 1159. It is the center of industrial, commercial, cultural and political activities in the country. It is located in the north, at the end of the Gulf of Tunisia between the coastal plain and the hills that surround it. It is the most populated city in the country. It hosted the Mediterranean Games in 1967 and 2001, being the only city that has hosted this event twice. Its medina, the city center, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.