Acre city in israel. What to see in the Israeli city Akko
Akko from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Akko.
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How to get to Akko
By bus from Haifa (fare 16 ILS, travel time 35-45 minutes) and Nahariya (8.5 ILS, 10-15 minutes). Trains run from Haifa and Nahariya to Akko. The road from Haifa will take half an hour, the ticket price is 16 ILS, from Nahariya only 7 minutes and the ticket will cost 8.5 ILS. Train ride from Tel Aviv - 70 ILS, travel time 1 hour 45 minutes, from Ben Gurion Airport - 44 ILS, travel time two hours.
Prices on the page are for September 2018.
Public transport in the city is represented by buses, you can also catch a taxi. The Old Town is easy to get around on foot.
Search for flights to Tel Aviv (nearest airport to Akko)
Weather in Akko
Average monthly temperature, °C day and night, water
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november
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Summers are long, warm and dry, while winters are quite mild. The greatest amount of precipitation occurs in December-February.
shopping
Akko's market stretches along the main road of the Old City, Market Street, which existed since the time of the Crusaders and crosses Akko from north to south. The market sells fish, vegetables, spices and oriental sweets, and it is open throughout the week until 17:00.
The bazaars of the Old City are of interest. So, the Turkish Bazaar, built at the end of the 18th century, is located in the central part, south of the Al-Jazzar mosque. Now there are stalls selling souvenirs for tourists at the bazaar. The bazaar is open to visitors throughout the week until 18:00.
Kitchen
At the old bazaar in Akko, you should definitely try hummus, which is an appetizer made from chickpea puree, and baklava.
Most of the restaurants, both expensive and not very expensive, are located along the beach. Middle Eastern cuisine is served at Hummus Said and Elias Dieb & Sons Restaurants.
Popular hotels in Akko
Entertainment and attractions Akko
Of the sights, one can single out the walls of Akko, built between 1750 and 1840, and surrounding the city from land and from the sea; Akko Fortress, built in 1750 on the ruins of the Hospitaller monastery. In the fortress, one can especially highlight the dining room, built presumably in 1147-1160, and the underground tunnel connecting the northern wall of the fortress with the port in the south.
The Al-Jazzar Mosque, also known as the "White Mosque" - one of the largest mosques in Israel, was built in 1745 on the ruins of a Templar church.
In Akko, the buildings of inns - khans - have been preserved. Khan Al-Umdan was built in 1784, Khan Al-Faranji is the oldest khan that has survived to this day. And Khan A-Shuarda is in an abandoned state - now the khan's building has been given over to warehouses and garages, however, the Crusader tower has been preserved on its territory in good condition.
One of the most beautiful sights of Akko is the Turkish bath, Hamam Al-Basha, built during the Ottoman Empire.
In Akko there is a Templar tunnel, which was built at the end of the 12th century. and connected the fortress of the Templars, which has not survived to this day, and sea port located in the east. The length of the tunnel is 350 m.
One of the most beautiful sights of Akko is the Turkish bath, Hamam Al-Basha, built during the Ottoman Empire by order of Pasha al-Jazzar. Until now, the remains of a water pipeline built by order of Suleiman Pasha and stretching along the highway connecting Akko and Nahariya have been preserved. Outside the Old City is the most beautiful synagogue in Israel - "Or ha-Torah" ("Light of the Torah").
Maps of Acre
Developments
In Akko, Sukkot or the "Feast of Tabernacles" is celebrated annually, one of the main holidays of the Jewish people, when it is customary to live not at home, but in a sukkah (tent) and remember the wandering of Jews in the Sinai desert. During Sukkot there is an alternative theater festival.
The city of Akko, in my opinion, occupies an important place even in Israel, which is rich in sights. If you have ever been fond of history, even if you read historical novels, you simply cannot help but know the name of one of the oldest ports in the world - Akko. Some believe that the name of the city of Akko was formed from two Hebrew words - “hell ko”. They mean "to here". According to legend, it was here during the Flood that water reached and stopped here.
| Akko. Crusader underground city |
The history of Akko began about 4 thousand years ago. The city, located at the crossroads of international trade routes, has always been the center of history. Like many other historical places in Israel, Akko is mentioned in the Bible, which I am slowly starting to consider a history textbook for the Middle East.
Whoever did not rule Akko - Jews, Persians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, Hellenes, Egyptians (more precisely, the Greek dynasty of the Ptolemies), Romans, Ottomans, British. In Ptolemaic times, the city was called, by the way, Ptolemaeus.
Most of all I was interested in the Phoenicians. How much I read about them! From the Phoenicians, the city was left with the ability to make the famous Phoenician glass. Since childhood, I dreamed of seeing - how does it look like? So, I was able to look at and even buy, desperately bargaining, a vase made from it. Expensive!
Over the long history of the city, many famous personalities have visited here: Julius Caesar, King David, Pharaoh Thutmose 3rd, Alexander the Great, the famous Venetian Marco Polo. And even Napoleon managed to check in. He stood under the walls of Acre for more than 2 months, but did not manage to take the walls of the city by storm. There is a legend that, when leaving, the emperor ordered to load a cannon with his own hat and shoot it into the city in order to at least mark himself in Acre at least like that.
Acre reached its greatest fame during the reign of the crusaders. Christian knights who came from Europe to "liberate" the shrines made the city their capital. Competent management by Europeans of trade, military and money flows going through a convenient seaport became the basis of Acre's well-being. The crusaders traded with East and West and increased their wealth, which, by the way, eventually became their curse. (hello, Templars!) Acre was the capital of the Kingdom of the Crusaders from 1191 until the end of the famous Third Crusade, which was led by King Richard the Lionheart of England and King Philip II of France,
In the city for spheres of influence all the time there were disputes between the Hospitallers, the Templars, the Teutonic Order, merchants from Genoa, Venice and Pisa. As a result, in 1256, an armed conflict broke out between the Venetians and the Genoese, known as the War of St. Sava. And already in 1291, torn apart by civil strife, the city of the crusaders fell after an assault by the Mamluk troops. Akko was completely destroyed and covered with earth for many years. It was rebuilt again only during the Ottoman period. However, they rebuilt in a cunning way. The entire old crusader city remained "underground", and the new, Ottoman, was built on the walls of the old one.
This is how the most famous tourist attraction of Akko appeared - 2 cities on the same square with the same streets and outlines of buildings. One is underground, the other is above ground.
Another very important fact from the history of Acre. According to the plan for the partition of Palestine, the city was supposed to go to the Arab state, but on May 14, 1948, during the Arab-Israeli war, Akko was occupied by the Israeli army and approximately 8 of the 12 thousand Arabs living there (this, for a moment, is 2/3 of the population!) fled to Lebanon and Syria. Before the war, the city was very, very rich. Very wealthy Arabs lived there. However, after the annexation, they did not return to their homes, and gradually the land part of the city fell into some desolation, and local Israeli very poor Arabs moved into the abandoned houses. They somehow do not care much about the property they have inherited from others, which gives the city a slight touch of slovenliness and is very sad.
To be honest, here in Akko, to our good, in general, guide Misha, I had the biggest complaints. The fact is that Akko, as you understand, is a very Arab city of Israel. And our Misha clearly does not like Arabs, although he does not advertise this. Therefore, those 3 hours that we left to explore the city were almost entirely spent only on the underground part!
Very sad. Indeed, Akko has a beautiful ground part of the old city. The fortress walls, for example, have survived to this day almost intact. Only at the beginning of the twentieth century they made two breaks in them to make it easier to enter the city. And in ancient times, there were only two gates in the fortress wall: In the northwestern part - the “Administrative Gate” (Shaar a-Seraya) for entering the city from land, and from the southeast, the “Sea” or “Damascus Gate” led to Akko ” (“Shaar a-Yam” or “Shaar Damesek”) - a gateway that controlled the passage of ships to the port.
Akko has a large oriental market (where, by the way, I bought my Phoenician glass vase) and where you should taste very, very tasty hummus.
The well-known Al-Jazzara Mosque is located in Akko, erected by the remnants of the cathedral from the time of the Crusaders, the ruler of the city, Ahmed Al-Jazzar (Ahmed Pasha). Ben-Ami Street leads to it. "Jazzar" in Arabic, by the way, means "butcher". They say that this conqueror was very cruel, and did not hesitate to cut off various parts of the bodies of his subjects, whom he suspected of abusing his trust or the treasury. In the courtyard of the mosque are the tombs of Ahmed Pasha and his son and successor, Suleiman Pasha.
And underground is located not so long ago the opened and restored "City of the Crusaders". Going down the stairs underground, you find yourself in a long suite of vaulted halls of various purposes - knights' halls, crypts.
| Work in the city of the crusaders does not stop |
As I have already said, Akko was divided by people from different European cities and orders into a number of autonomous residential areas. In each such quarter there was a market typical for the inhabitants of this part of the city, its temples and palaces, houses. The most famous of the Italian quarters were Venetian, Genoese and Pisa. Both the Knights' Halls and the fortress corridors and galleries were discovered only during excavations carried out here over the past 50 years.
I will pay tribute to the Jews - they are so great at digging, finding historical artifacts, preserving them superbly and presenting them to the world. According to legend, in one of the halls (in the crypt) a reception was held in honor of Marco Polo. Most of all, from the dungeons, I liked the secret underground exit to the port. According to legend, it was through him that the famous Grail and the Ark of Fate were taken out of Israel. And certainly all the smuggling that the knights hunted through it.
At the top you can walk to the Turkish baths. Although ... Don't go there! Of course, in the east, the baths were one of the places for negotiations, exchange of news, etc. And the baths in Acre are really beautiful. Of course, now there is a very good museum. But 20 minutes indoors to watch a movie about a story... when the reality is so interesting... In short, don't waste your time! Read about history on the Internet!
Upstairs, on Khan el-Shaward Street, workshops and shops of small
artisans. A long time ago there was a Franciscan convent here. It is said that when the Mamelukes captured the city in 1291, the Franciscan sisters committed mass suicide, preferring death to dishonor.
| crusader tower |
Nearby stands the only surviving watchtower of the Crusader fortress. It is called in very Arabic Burj el-Sultan. If you go further along the fortress walls, you can go to the ancient harbor. Nearby is a caravanserai built in 1785. It is called "Khan el-Umdan" (an inn with columns). The courtyard of this building is decorated with granite columns brought from Caesarea.
Nearby is the Clock Tower. On the same square is the monastery of St. Francis, founded in the 17th century. From the Clock Tower you can go to the lighthouse. A short walk from the lighthouse is the citadel. In the last decade of Turkish rule, the citadel was turned into a prison. At one time, the Baha'i prophet Baha'u'llah was kept here.
| Akko. Life is in full swing |
And one more thing, curious: on the territory of Akko there is a wonderful beach, which is the extreme northern point, to which fine and soft sand migrates from the mouth of the Nile. And on the outskirts of the city there are Bahai gardens, not so famous. Like in Haifa, but still. We didn't see the gardens. And a sandy beach too. Reason to return?
The city of Acre has experienced many ups and downs in its long history. Each era has left its traces here, marked and staked out its rightful place.
Given the fact that time has only slightly “powdered” the evidence of several millennia of Akko’s existence, perfectly preserving them to this day, answers to questions like: “where to go?” and “what to see?” - tourists find very quickly. There are so many attractions here that if you want to go through all tourist routes, then you have to spend at least a month on it!
Read in this article
Start
The city of Akko, as it is also called the ancient Ptolemaida, is located in Western Galilee, in northern Israel. Its age exceeds 5000 years. The city was built on the shore mediterranean sea and was a powerful, fighting fortress of the crusaders.
Not a single knightly city has survived to this day in such a state of preservation. In 2001, UNESCO included Akko in the list of outstanding world values. Throughout the history of the city, many famous personalities have visited here: Julius Caesar, King David, Pharaoh Thutmose 3rd, Alexander the Great and the famous Venetian merchant Marco Polo. AT real city Acre was transformed during the Crusades...
The history of the appearance of the city goes back so far that it is not possible to discern its very origins. Imagine, Jews, Christians and Muslims believe that:
- it was on this place that the land (fields and pastures) was located, given by the Lord to the first person on Earth, Adam, after being expelled from paradise;
- on the coast near Akko, the Flood “stopped”.
These two legendary facts would be more than enough to make this place attractive for tourists and pilgrims. But this is only the beginning. In 1104, the city was besieged for the first time by knights heading to Jerusalem to liberate them from the infidels.
The city surrendered and remained under the rule of the crusaders for almost 200 years. The knightly orders of the Hospitallers, the Templars, the Teutons had their quarters here. To this day, a fortress built in the 13th century by the Order of the Hospitallers has been perfectly preserved here. It had a meeting room, a hospital, and a refectory. Such a complex could accommodate up to 1000 knights.
English King Richard the Lionheart, together with French king Philip II, captured Acre during the third crusade. The city became the capital of the Crusaders. The population of the city exceeded 40 thousand people.
Dozens of churches were built here and trade prospered admirably. But at the end of the 13th century, the city was destroyed by the Mamluks, and for many centuries it was simply covered with sand. Perhaps thanks to this, this luxurious, underground city which archaeologists are still excavating to this day.
Deep under Acre, the crusaders created a system for themselves underground passages for economic purposes, shelter and withdrawal to the sea in case of war. At the end of the 90s, the Templar tunnel was excavated, 350 meters long. It connects the refectory of the fortress with the seaport.
In the 16th century, the city was captured by the Ottoman Turks and again became an important port. At the end of the 18th century, the Turks fortified the walls and erected several defensive structures. It served them good use, when Napoleon approached the walls of the fortress, believing that it would not be difficult for him to capture Akko. But after two months of unsuccessful siege, Napoleon could not take the city and retreated. Until now, here, on the fortress walls, the cannons that participated in that historic battle have been preserved.
In the era of the Turks, Akko was decorated with new buildings - mosques, khans, baths. The famous Al Jazzar Mosque, the third largest in Israel, several inns and a clock tower were erected here. All this has been perfectly preserved to this day.
Port
With relative certainty, it can only be stated that the city itself began as a port, built by the still expansive and energetic Egyptians, to export grain from the fertile Galilee.
Following the Egyptians, the Phoenicians came here, followed by the Greeks and Romans. Peoples and eras have changed, but occupations have remained the same. The harbor daily received and escorted ships with grain, fabrics, utensils, military equipment, soldiers: war and trade are eternal competitors at all times.
The harbor received a second life after severe knights appeared in these places, who arrived in Palestine in the 11th century for the sake of liberating the Holy Sepulcher. Then the city became a gateway for the flow of pilgrims and warriors from Europe.
A modern tourist will need a good imagination to imagine all the ancient splendor of the port of Akko. The picturesque ruins on the shore of the ancient bay, carefully preserved for romantic natures, belong to a later period. The atmosphere remains, but the sun and moon are the same.
Nowadays, the port of Akko is a “modest” marina for small boats of rich guys. And the local yacht club offers wealthy tourists boat trips on modern yachts, excellent fishing, diving and much more.
Fortress of the Liberators of the Holy Sepulcher
For the crusaders, the city of Acre is a strategic point. It was here that adventurers landed on the Holy Land, and part-time knight brothers and their numerous escorts. The surviving remains of the once formidable and impregnable fortifications, monasteries, castles, underground passages and temples are an impressive complex located mainly underground.
Hospitallers, Templars, Teutons - each order had its own quarter in the city. Walking through the dining and sleeping halls of the fortress of the Hospitallers, it is pleasant to realize that Francis of Assisi, Marco Polo, Richard the Lionheart and many others have been guests here.
The underground tunnel of the mysterious Templars was discovered by accident: during roadworks, an excavator exposed brickwork, under which a void gaped. The passage connected the fortress with the port. Brave and greedy knight brothers took out their countless treasures along this road, among the treasures, as they say, was the Holy Grail itself.
The modern tourist is delighted with the thoroughness with which all the medieval objects of the city are recreated, their accessibility and saturation with the historical atmosphere. Traveling through the dungeons of the city of Akko takes a tourist to the Middle Ages no worse than any time machine.
Unfortunately, not a single medieval church of the city has survived, but almost all Christian churches in Akko were built on the sites of ancient cathedrals. Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic denominations are represented in the city.
Muslim heritage
city wall
The city fortifications that can be seen around the old city today are the work of a self-confident sheikh who wished to create his own state in the 18th century, independent of the Ottomans. The "project" of a sheikh named Dahar al-Omar was not long-lasting.
The Ottomans did not long tolerate the presumptuous nobleman under their noses and quickly restored the “status quo” of Galilee. But for short term During his reign, Sheikh al-Omar managed to build a fortress wall in Akko, which protected the city from enemies for several more centuries. The fortifications turned out to be “too tough” even for Napoleon Bonaparte, and there was little that could restrain this commander.
The second Muslim ruler of these places was Ahmet Pasha, nicknamed "the butcher". The favorite thing of this politician was cutting off parts of the body of his associates. In his free time from his creepy hobby, Ahmet Pasha built a large mosque in Akko, luxurious baths, guest yards, and also strengthened the city wall even more.
The Ahmet Pasha Mosque is considered not only one of the most beautiful in Israel, but also especially revered throughout the Islamic world. The main shrine of the mosque - a few hairs from the beard of the prophet himself - provides the city with a massive influx of Islamic pilgrims and tourists.
The building itself is a masterpiece of 18th century architecture. The interior of the mosque deserves special attention: wood carvings, Persian carpets, mosaics. In the courtyard you can see the tomb of Ahmet Pasha himself and his son. And under the foundation of the building, a huge reservoir for fresh water built by the crusaders.
Bath
Hamam al-Basha is the name of this once very significant and refined institution. Old city in Acre without a hamam is simply unthinkable. This is not only a bath, once it was a men's club, a place of communication between merchants and politicians. Today, here, in addition to mosaic floors, marble columns, pools, murals and fountains, you can daily plunge into the atmosphere of an oriental fairy tale. The fact is that audiovisual performances take place in the old bathhouse: pictures of the past are projected onto the walls and ceilings, voices, sounds, laughter are heard. And the "highlight of the program" is a video presentation of a meeting of bath attendants from different eras. All together creates the effect of presence in the distant past of the city.
Gostiny dvor
At one time Akko was quite a wealthy city in Israel. Trading traditions here are ancient and strong. In the old city, four gostiny yards - khans - have been perfectly preserved. Some of them are restored, some are abandoned. But they are all equally interesting.
Khan A-Shaward was built through the efforts of a caring but unfortunate sheikh al-Omar. Other "hotels" appeared in the city later. Often these buildings were rebuilt on the site of medieval monasteries or knightly residences, so the interiors of the first floors are excellent examples of strict and refined Gothic.
Baha'i gardens
Another historical place city, it is a prison, also built by the Turks. One of the most famous prisoners of this prison is the prophet Bahallah, one of the founders of the Baha'i religion. On the grave of Bahallah, his followers built a temple and built beautiful Bahai gardens. By the way, in addition to them, there are in Israel and one more, not far from Acre, in the city of Haifa.
Without going into the religious peculiarities of the teachings of Baha'u'llah, anyone can visit the main shrine of the Baha'is of the whole world, as well as the magnificent gardens that surround this shrine. Here, olives coexist with cypresses, and pomegranate alleys with citrus fruits.
The complex irrigation system and competent selection of plants in the Baha'i gardens ensure that they bloom all year round. Exotic lovers can attend a service in the temple, where every Bahai believer is simply obliged to come at least once in his life.
Museums
The city has several interesting museums, visiting which will not be boring or meaningless. The most interesting of them:
- The Okashi Museum of Art is a collection of works by contemporary Israeli artists in the medieval interiors of the Akko fortress.
- Underground Museum - introduces visitors to difficult history struggle for the independence of Israel. The exposition is very modern, extraordinary. The museum halls themselves are located in the former prison tower of the city citadel.
- The Ethnographic Museum is the richest collection of handicrafts created over the last millennium. A mixture of styles, traditions, cultures - so characteristic of ancient city on the shores of the Mediterranean.
Restaurants and gastronomic attractions
The Israelis themselves believe that the best hummus is made in Akko. The traditions of making this pea paste with spices and olive oil have developed in these lands in those distant times, when the mythical Hercules was looking for medicinal herbs here. Here, this local delicacy can be tasted in any restaurant and cafe.
Another gastronomic hallmark of the city is dishes from the freshest fish caught by local fishermen. Therefore, the most famous "nutritive" establishments of the city are fish.
Restaurant "Uri Buri" in Akko is known far beyond the borders of Israel. Soup from crayfish necks, caviar on a slice of persimmon, spicy anchovies - it is very difficult to list all the popular dishes of the restaurant.
Visitors to the Greek cuisine restaurant "Abu Cristo" appreciate the institution for its excellent interior, good service and delicious cuisine. The institution is positioned as a fish restaurant, but meat dishes no less delicious. It can be added to everything that the portions in Israeli restaurants are large, and the prices, on the contrary, are low. Therefore, this city is a paradise for gluttons!
And of course, the impression of Akko will be incomplete without a walk along its streets, along the promenade, along the fishing pier. Fresh air is mixed with the aromas of the sea, spices and delicious fish from the neighboring restaurants for which the city is so famous. Fishing is still the main occupation of the locals.
Video
How to get to this miracle
The easiest way to get to Acre is from Haifa. You can go by bus, you can go by train. The train will cost a little more than the bus, but the trip itself will take no more than an hour.
Akko a city in Western Galilee. Located approximately 20 km north of the city of Haifa and 140 km from international airport them. Ben Gurion.
The city is located on the Mediterranean coast.
It is included in the UNESCO heritage list.
Founded around 1500 BC
The population is 50 thousand people.
The city of Akko is located in the northern part of the coastal valley, which is also called the Akko Valley. His northern border is the agricultural settlement of Bustan ha-Galil, and in the south it extends to the Neaman stream.
In Acre beautiful beaches. This is the most north point on the coast, where you will find soft sand, which is brought into the Mediterranean Sea from the Nile, which flows into it.
Acre is one of the cities in Israel with a history spanning over 4,000 years. Akko was located at the crossroads of trade routes and has always been the center of history. Akko was a meeting point for many diverse cultures and was of great strategic importance as it was located on a peninsula. This is one of the few cities on the Mediterranean coast, the fortress walls of which have been preserved without damage, with the exception of two gaps, which are currently used as entry gates for transport.
Old Akko has many faces, its cultural layers have been preserved almost completely.
The first mention of Acre refers to 1456 BC The city was conquered by the Egyptians, then was under the rule of the Hittites. In the XIII century. BC. Akko again came under the dominion of the Egyptians. AT 701 BC The city was taken by the Assyrians. In 333 BC. Akko was conquered by Alexander the Great and turned into a Greek colony. After the death of Alexander the Great and the collapse of his empire, the city alternately passed from the Greeks to the Egyptians, then to the Seleucids, then had the status of a free Greek city. Acre was later annexed to the Roman Empire. During the Roman period, Acre greatly outgrew the boundaries of the Old City and prospered.
AT 638 Acre was captured by the Arabs. Under their rule, a large port for those times was built in the city.
AT 1104 The city was conquered by the crusaders. The period of their rule is connected with the majority cultural monuments for which the city is now famous. Under the crusaders, the city becomes the capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and receives powerful defensive structures. The city was named Saint-Jean d'Acre. Military knightly orders - the Teutons, the Templars, the Hospitallers - had their own quarters in the city.
AT 1291 In the year the city passes under the hand of the Mamluks, who, taking advantage of the civil strife taking place in the city, took it by storm. The Mamluks destroyed the city and massacred most of the population. The city was restored only by the middle of the XIV century.
AT 1517 Acre is conquered by the Ottoman Turks under the command of Selim I. Under the Ottomans, the city began to rebuild and develop. In the 18th century, the city became the capital of Galilee and a fortress was built there.
The city loses its strategic importance only by the end of the 19th century, after the construction railways between Damascus and Beirut, Beirut and Haifa.
AT 1918 In the year the English troops, who fought against the Turks, occupied the city. In the future, they ruled it under the Mandate for Palestine. The city was turned into the administrative center of the northern district.
According to the plan for the partition of Palestine, Akko was supposed to go to the Arab state, but May 14, 1948 during the Arab-Israeli war, Acre was occupied by the Israeli army, and approximately 8 of the 12 thousand Arabs living there fled to neighboring Arab countries.
Shortly after the war, Akko begins to develop rapidly outside the walls. Many repatriates settle in the city. In the mid-1960s, Jews left the old city because of the difficult living conditions there and moved to the new one. The old city soon turns into a center of tourism.
Today Akko is administrative center Western Galilee, there are branches and departments of ministries, public institutions and courts.
Four religions have found refuge and left their mark in Akko: there are Jewish synagogues, luxurious churches in Christian areas, large mosques, as well as a garden where Baha Ullah, the founder of the Baha'i religion, is buried, and Beit Aboud.
Acre is characterized by good weather for almost all year round, this city has beautiful beaches, an anchorage for boats and a fishing port. This is a city with rich history; Every lane has a past, and the atmosphere of freedom and romance reigns in the city.
Attractions Akko
Al-Jazar Mosque
This is the largest mosque in Akko and the largest in Israel, except for the mosques in Jerusalem. The mosque was built in honor of the ruler of the city, Ahmed Al-Jazar. It was erected on the ruins of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, which in turn was built on the site of the ancient "Sixth Day" Mosque. Today it is one of the most beautiful mosques in the Galilee. Inside, the building is decorated with blue and brown frescoes, and its floor is covered with huge Persian carpets. Particles of the beard of the prophet Mohammed are stored here, which are shown to the public only on the 27th day of the month of Ramadan. At the entrance to the mosque, a twin building was built, in which the graves of Al-Jazar and his adopted son, the heir Suleiman Pasha, are located.
magic garden
During the Crusader period, the magical garden was located in the northern part of the city, adjacent to the wall. To the east of the garden stood Royal Palace crusaders in Akko, and in the west a military fortress - the monastery of the Hospitallers - the Order of St. John. During the Ottoman period, a fortress was built on the remains of the Hospitaller monastery and the garden became part of the gardens of the Pasha's private palace. In 1799, a battle was fought in the garden between Napoleon's soldiers and the defenders of the city.
Fortress of the Knights Hospitaller
The Hospitallers are a military monastic order that was involved in the treatment of the sick in the Holy Land and the protection of pilgrims who came to visit holy places. The order operated hospitals in Jerusalem and Acre. The Hospitallers, who had their own quarter in the city, moved their headquarters from Jerusalem to Akko and built a fortress here. The buildings of this complex were two- and three-story, they were located around the central courtyard; there were also underground parts - water reservoirs and a sewer system. Excavations of the fortress are still ongoing. The area of the complex is approximately 23 thousand sq.m. Visitors can see the knights' halls, the dining room, the prisoner's hall, public toilets from the time of the crusaders, the courtyard of the fortress, the street from the Kroestnos era and the secret passage.
Knights' halls - under the fortress and the Akko prison during excavations in 1954-63. an impressive underground complex of the 11th-12th centuries, the era of the Crusaders, was discovered. The complex consists of six halls, a dungeon supported by 18 massive columns of the Great Ceremonial Hall and a smaller elegant Dining Hall. An underground tunnel leads to the Dining Hall. The rest of the structure is the ruins of a Gothic temple. In the 7th and 8th centuries, on top of the Knights' Halls, the Ottoman authorities built palaces and service premises, then turned into a prison by the British.
Drain tunnel
This tunnel, built in the time of the Persians and connecting the Akko fortress with the city's sewer, was turned by the crusaders into an important strategic object. They increased the length and height of the ceilings. They also built a branch 60 meters long, which at the end was again connected to the main tunnel. From the entrance to the tunnel there are two branches: a low Persian tunnel and a high one built by the Crusaders. After the connection, the low tunnel of the Persians continues. The tunnel was used by the crusaders during the construction of the refectory. The entrance to the tunnel at the time of the Crusaders was outside near the southern wall of the refectory on the street, through a rectangular well. This well, filled with stones, was also discovered by archaeologists during excavations on the same street. In ancient times, this unique structure served as an important underground passage. The tunnel connects the north wall and the seaport to the south.
Hamam Al-Basha
The Turkish baths complex was built by order of Ahmed Al-Jazar in 1795 on the ruins of the Crusader baths. After restoration in 1954, the municipal museum was housed in the premises of Hammam. It lasted until 1990. Hammam Al-Basha is currently hosting a fascinating multimedia show that introduces visitors to the history of the city. The premises of the Hammam, lined with expensive marble, are located around the same marble fountain. The octagonal hot tub is located near the furnace with the heating boiler. Each room is decorated with a dome. The marble-clad building is adorned with granite columns and lined with colorful ceramics brought from Damascus and Anatolia.
Genoa Square
The area is in the shape of a triangle. The architecture surrounding the square belongs mainly to the era of the Crusaders. Here is the house of Abud (named after one of the owners) - Holy place for the followers of the Baha'i Faith. The house was handed over to Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Baha'i faith, and was inherited by his family. This building immediately catches the eye with its blue windows. Another building overlooking the square is the Arts Center.
Fortified walls of Acre
The fortress wall protecting the city is often erroneously attributed to the era of the Crusaders. However, it was built much later. The wall system was built in three stages. The first wall was completed in 1750. It was a thin wall, only a meter thick, surrounding Akko from the land side and from the sea. Its height was from 10 to 13 meters. There were only two gates in the wall. The construction of new walls continued during the time of Al Jazzar. At this time, new walls were erected and the old walls were fortified, and a canal was dug between them. In 1799, the fortress withstood the siege of Napoleon's army. But even after that, the strengthening of the walls continued. Construction ended only in 1801. This is today's walls of Acre. Four gates lead to the fortress.
Inns of Acre (Khana)
Khan al-Umdan - this inn, built in 1784 by order of Al-Jazar near the harbor, is the largest inn in Israel. Khan al-Umdan is a spacious square surrounded by a two-story gardere, supported by numerous vaulted columns. A clock tower rises above the entrance portal, erected in honor of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the reign of Sultan Abdul-Hamid II.
Khan al-Faranji - was built by French merchants on the site central square Venetian quarter. This is the most ancient khan that has survived to this day. It is named after the French merchants who built it and lived in it. Today, in the northeastern part of the khan, there is a church and a Franciscan school.
Khan a-Shuarda - not so long ago the khan was restored. Today it houses several restaurants and cafes. Once it was the only workshop in Akko for the production and repair of boats in the traditional way, but after the restoration of the khan, the workshop was closed. In the southeast side of the khan there is a crusader tower, the only one that has been almost completely preserved in its original form.
Khan a-Shuna - the khan has been in a ruined and abandoned state for many decades. It consists of a rectangular courtyard 20 by 40 meters. Around the courtyard were warehouses, rooms for living. There were several rooms that were used for trading shops and overlooked the outer side of the khan. The living quarters on the northern and western sides consisted of two rooms, and on the eastern side only one. Most of the khan was destroyed during the time of Al-Jazzar.
Acre Harbor
In 1982, the harbor was converted into a yacht pier - Marina. The results of the excavations indicate that the ancient harbor was originally located at the mouth of the Naaman stream. In the 5th century BC. the port was moved to its current location, where it grew during the periods of Greek and Roman rule, and then, a millennium later, was completed and expanded with the arrival of the crusaders. The symbol of Akko Harbor is the "Tower of Beelzebub" (Philistian deity) - a small fortified structure erected on the shallows at the entrance to the bay.
Venetian Square
The area is located north of Akko Harbour. An impressive bell tower dominates the square. The square was built by the Venetians who returned to the city after the completion of the Muslim occupation of the 13th century.
Ha-Ramchal Synagogue (Tree of Life Synagogue)
This is small, very beautiful building, owes its name to the famous Jewish thinker. The house was confiscated from its owner and given to the Jewish community by the Bedouin ruler of the Galilee, Sheikh Dahar al-Omar. The construction of the building dates back to the era of the Crusaders. According to tradition, Ramchal, who lived in Akko in the middle of the 18th century, prayed in this synagogue.
Tunisian Synagogue Or Torah
Built in honor of the ancient Jewish synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia. All four floors of the building, both inside and outside, are decorated with magnificent mosaics (from Kibbutz Ayalon); these mosaic panels were created over 54 years. They are entirely composed of hundreds of millions of natural stones collected in Israel. The synagogue has 7 halls of the Torah. There are also beautiful stained glass windows. The mosaics and stained-glass windows that adorn the synagogue tell the story of the Jewish people and Israel, from the exit of the forefather Abraham from Urkesh to the Yom Kippur War.
Saraya
The word "saraya" means "castle" in Turkish. This is the building that housed the Turkish authorities of Akko, it was built at the end of the 18th century, and it housed the offices of the officials of the Turkish civil authorities. The gate at the entrance to the building is simply luxurious - they are built in the Mamluk architectural style, which is called "ablac". This is a two-story building, it is built around a central courtyard, lined with stone. The building of the Ottoman Saraya was built on the ruins of the temple of John the Baptist, which was located here in the era of the Crusaders.
Tomb of Baha'u'llah
Bahaji - is a holy place for Baha'is around the world. Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i religion, lived here for the last 12 years of his life. Here he was buried. There are two historical buildings: estate and temple of Baha'u'llah. The Temple of Baha'u'llah is the place of his burial. The followers of this religion turn their hearts and faces in the direction of this temple daily during the offering of certain prayers, and strive to make a pilgrimage here at least once in their lives. This place was known as Bahaji or El-Bahaji, which means "Place of Happiness" even before Baha'u'llah settled here.
Churches in Akko
Church of Saint George - Greek Orthodox Church was the first Christian temple built in Acre during the Turkish rule. The first evidence that has come down to us from this period concerns the existence of a Greek Orthodox monastery and temple in Akko - the testimony of the monk Eugene Roger, who visited Akko in 1631. 35 years later, the doctor Gabriel Bremont from Marseille visited Acre. Bremont wrote that the Greek Orthodox church, which was then (1666) called the Church of St. Nicholas, was restored by Fakher El-Din and became the most beautiful of the churches of Acre.
Church of St. Andrew - in the XVIII century among Orthodox Christians Eastern countries(including Palestine) the tendency was to accept the Pope as head of the church. Against this background, a Greek Catholic community began to form in Acre. This community settled in the southwestern part of the city and a community church was built for them on the ruins of the Church of the Apostle Andrew, which, in turn, was built in the era of the Crusaders.
Church of John the Baptist - next to the lighthouse of the city of Acre is the temple of John the Baptist, owned by the Catholic Church (Franciscans). It is not clear when this church was built, but a few years ago an inscription carved in stone was discovered on the north wall, which indicates the year 1737. The church was restored in 1947. It is currently the only Catholic church in Acre.
Maronite Church - located in the southwestern part of the city, near the church of St. Andrew and the monastery of Notre Dame de Nazareth. The Maronites were expelled from Acre during the Crusades. They returned to the city only during the reign of Fakhr El-Din II. He allowed them to repair their temple, which was then called the church of St. Nicholas.
Caffarelli's grave
General Caffarelli was a military engineer, he accompanied Napoleon during his campaign in Palestine. He enjoyed great popularity in the army - the soldiers affectionately called him "Daddy on crutches" (4 years before that, the general had lost his left leg, which prevented him from fulfilling his duties) - he was also a personal friend of Napoleon Bonaparte. He died during the siege of Acre. Caffarelli's grave was discovered only in 1969 on the territory where the agricultural college "Yad Nathan" is currently located. Once a year, in November, the French embassy holds a ceremony at this site to commemorate the signing of the ceasefire at the end of the First World War and a ceremony honoring the unknown soldier.
Museums in Akko
The Okashi Museum is a museum named after the artist Avshalom Okashi, who belongs to the New Horizons movement. This is a unique museum of contemporary art, located in a building from the time of the Ottoman rule. The expositions in the museum change every 3 months.
Underground Museum - the complex is located above the fortress of the Hospitallers. Ottoman era building. Then the palace of Pasha El-Jazar was located here. During the British mandate, there was a prison here, from where 9 prisoners - members of the Jewish underground - went up to the gallows. The exposition of the museum is dedicated to the activities of the Jewish resistance before the establishment of the State of Israel: the organizations "Etzel", "Agana" and "Lehi".
Ethnographic Museum - offers a journey through the Galilee two hundred years ago and shows how people lived in Acre and in the Galilee at that time. The exposition of the museum is a Galilean market of the 18th-19th centuries, with its artisans, their tools and products, and market traders are also shown. This museum is located in the thickness of an ancient wall, which is about 60 meters wide, which adds a special charm to the museum.
Akko Markets
Due to the fact that Akko was at the crossroads of trade routes, and was also one of the main seaports of that period, it was a very important international shopping center those times, especially during the time of the crusaders. Several bazaars were built in Akko, one of which was in the port, especially for merchants from across the sea. During the Turkish rule, new markets were opened, of which the Turkish bazaar, built on the orders of Al-Jazar, and the Al-Aviad bazaar (white bazaar) are known.
Turkish Bazaar
The Turkish Bazaar was built at the end of the 18th century as an urban market to meet the needs of the local population. The bazaar was abandoned in 1948, after the city was conquered by the Tsakhal; it has only recently reopened as a small market for artisans and artists. Currently, the market houses small shops specializing in the trade of souvenirs and works of art for tourists.
Souq El Aviad (White Market)
Near the mosque of El-Jazar, a little to the east, is the White Market, which was built by Suleiman Pasha at the end of his reign as governor of Acre. Previously, this place was another market, larger in size. This bazaar was called the bazaar of Daher. There were 110 shops in the old bazaar, and it was, of course, the center of trade in Acre and northern Palestine. One of the last detailed descriptions of this bazaar is a description made by the English scientist John Silk Buckingham, who visited Acre in 1816. And in 1817 there was a fire. About ten people died and were injured in the crash, the building itself was badly damaged and the fire that spread throughout the bazaar caused great damage. In the same year, the charred ruins of the market were destroyed and a new market was built in their place, which still exists today. The walls of the market and its sixty-four shops were whitewashed, which gave the market its name. The White Market is located in a very sunny place; maybe that's why the people of Akko still call him "White". The street and the bazaar were planned as a whole. The bazaar is a vaulted building above the street, with small barrel vaulted shops. High vaults in the center, openings and light all add lightness and attractiveness to the bazaar. During Turkish rule, there was only one entrance to the city. Then the road went straight through the bazaar towards the mosque and the fortress. It was one of the most important roads in Acre. The road and the bazaar lost their significance during the laying of a new entrance to the city in the northern wall.
The renovation of the bazaar has recently begun, and once completed, many of the shops will turn into shops selling soft drinks and light snacks.
market street
Market street is the main street in the Old City, it leads from south to north. In the era of the Crusaders, the street led from the Hospitaller Gate in the north, along the market or the Royal Road (Via Regis) to the port. Currently located along the street Central market Old Akko is a colorful bazaar with many shops selling fish, oriental sweets, perfumes and original spices.
Restaurants and cafes in Akko
Akko offers a large number of variety of restaurants for tourists seeking culinary experiences....
Restaurant "Uri Buri"- located on the embankment in the Old City, on the square near the lighthouse. Gourmet restaurant - specializes in fish dishes and seafood.
Restaurant "Abu Cristo"- located in the Old City, in the fishing port. Oriental restaurant specializing in fish dishes.
Restaurant "Galileo"- located in the Old City, in the port of Pisa. Specialization - fish dishes.
Restaurant "Ahim Ouda"- in East restaurant, located on the territory of the inn "El-Faraj", in the center of the market of the Old City; The restaurant offers a variety of fish and seafood dishes.
Restaurant "Diniana"- Oriental meat and fish restaurant. Located in the port of Pisa, next to the lighthouse.
Restaurant "Abu-Suhil"- specialization of the restaurant - hummus. Located in the Old City.
Hummus Said Restaurant- a restaurant specializing in hummus in the Old Town, next to the market.
Abu Elias Restaurant- in the Old Town, specialization - hummus.
Mor u-Kinamon Restaurant- a restaurant specializing in meat and fish dishes; strict observance of kashrut. Groups of up to 120 people are also accepted.
Restaurant "Shipudey Sami ha-Gadol"- a kosher meat restaurant located in the new part of the city (opposite the central bus station "Egeda"). Suitable for receiving groups.
Restaurant "Hashalom"- a kosher oriental restaurant located in the new part of the city.
Ram Restaurant is a kosher catering restaurant and you can order pre-cooked meals on trays.
Restaurant "Ha-Lehem weha-Dagim"- a meat and fish restaurant located on the waterfront of Akko.
Ha-Hof Ha-Maaravi Restaurant- Oriental restaurant, no alcohol for sale. The restaurant specializes in fish dishes and other seafood.
Restaurant "Kaf ha-Zahav"- a cozy oriental restaurant in the Old Town.
Saraya Restaurant- Oriental restaurant specializing in meat and fish dishes.
The city is considered one of the world's attractions and is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Cities.
Population
Population 46,400 (2009) of which:
- 5% - others
Population - 46.3 thousand people (according to the Central Bureau of Statistics on December 31).
Story
Ancient history
View of Old Akko from a great height
Akko is one of the cities in Israel whose history has continued without interruption for over 4000 years. Akko was located at the crossroads of international trade routes and therefore has always been the center of history. Akko was a meeting place for many diverse cultures and a strategic location for military campaigns.
The first mention of the city dates back to the 19th century BC. e. (in the region of 1800 BC) in the ancient Egyptian cuneiform archives of the correspondence of the Canaanite kings found during excavations in El Amarna. During this period, it was a Canaanite city, located in a place called today "Tel Acre (Heb. תל עכו ) - Tel el-Pukhar", northeast modern city, 700 meters from the sea. In the book of Joshua, as well as in other sources, the city was mentioned under the names "Ahshaf" and "Umma".
During the era of the kingdom of Israel was under the rule of the Phoenicians. In the Bible, it is mentioned under the name Akko in the book of Judges in connection with the resettlement of the tribe of Asher, into whose allotment Akko entered, but from which he could not expel the local Canaanite inhabitants. " Asher did not expel the inhabitants of Acre, and the inhabitants of Sidon, and Ahlav, and Achziv, and Helva, and Aphek, and Rehov." (Court. )
After the death of Alexander the Great, the city was taken over by the Egyptian Ptolemies, who gave it the name Ptolemais. Under this name, Akko is mentioned in the Bible, in the epistles of the Apostle Paul. Captured by Antiochus the Great in 219 BC. e. Akko became part of the Seleucid Empire and was named Antioch. Being under the rule of the Seleucids, Akko repeatedly served as a base for military operations against Judea. After the death of Antiochus VII Sidet, Acre passed from one Hellenistic ruler to another and became a de facto independent city.
Richard the Lionheart and Leopold V receive the keys to the city of Acre
The city became the capital of the Crusaders in Palestine and was surrounded by powerful defensive structures. The city received a new name - Saint-Jean d'Acre.
Turkish rule
Then for 400 years Acre was small fishing village. In 1517 it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks under the command of Selim I. At the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century, the city was ruled by the Druze Fakhr-a-din, who began to rebuild the city. In 1721 Dahar al-Amar al-Zainudi became the ruler of Galilee. Realizing the strategic location of the city, he made it his capital and began to rebuild. First of all, he renewed the walls, the size of which was reduced in comparison with the period of the crusaders, and secondly, he invited Jews, Muslims and the French to settle again in the city and created appropriate conditions for them. In 1752 he built a fortress. In 1775, the Bosnian officer Ahmed came to power in the city, nicknamed Al-Jazzar (in Arabic, "jazzar" - a butcher) for his attitude towards opponents. Al-Jazzar continued the restoration of the city, built new mosques on the site of churches, a Turkish bath, strengthened the walls, built his palace, bazaar. In 1799, thanks to his Jewish adviser Chaim Farhi and the English admiral Sidney Smith, he was able to resist the siege of the city, undertaken by General Bonaparte at the head of an army of 13,000. Tom eventually had to return to Egypt and abandon plans to advance to India. Al-Jazzar was succeeded by his son Suleiman, and he was succeeded by his brother Abdullah. Afraid too great influence Khaim Farhi, Abdullah decided to deal with him and executed him in . The Farhi brothers tried to punish the ungrateful ruler, but Abdullah was able to stay behind the walls of the city, which the brothers could not take. In 1831 Akko was conquered by the Egyptian army of Ibrahim Pasha, the son of Muhammad Ali. November 4, 1840 after the shelling of the city by the British-Franco-Austrian flotilla, he was returned to Turkey. In 1868, Baha'u'llah (Hussein-Ali-i-Nuri), the founder of the Baha'i religion, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the city of Acre. After the construction of the railways Damascus - Beirut in 1896 and Haifa - Damascus in 1906, Acre lost its former strategic importance due to the rapid development of Haifa - largest city and the port of Galilee.
Guns from the time of the Turks
British Mandate
Khan Al Faranji
Tomb of Bahá'u'lláh
House Museum of Baha'u'llah
Two kilometers north of Acre is a magnificent park, in the center of which is a small and beautiful house. Inside this house is the tomb of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i faith. Exactly this sacred place for her followers. The house where Bahá'u'lláh lived until 1892 was built by Amid Turki in 1870. The building today is a museum of the Bahá'í Faith. The museum houses numerous original manuscripts, books about religion in many languages. A rich and very beautiful mausoleum was built over the tomb of Bahá'u'lláh.
The museum is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday between 9:00 and 12:00 am.
Other Baha'i shrines in Akko include the house of Abboud, the house of Abdullah Pasha (both of which Bahá'u'lláh also lived for some time) and the "Garden of Eden", where Bahá'u'lláh spent the last part of his life. A place of pilgrimage for many Baha'is is also the fortress (the prison building in which Baha'u'llah was from 1868 to 1870).