The Old city of Acre is one of the fascinating old cities in Israel. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rich in history, spanning from the Greek periods, this ancient city has fascinating points of interest as well as a charming location along the Sea. Acre is well known as one of the main Crusaders cities
Acre/Akko was inhabited from the Bronze age to the Roman period in a tell (mound) east of the old city, on the north bank of the Na'aman river. It was abandoned at the Hellenistic/Roman period. (See a detailed review of Tell Akko - the biblical site of Akko).
- Current location
The Romans built a breakwater and expanded the harbour at the present location of the harbour.
At the Arab period the old city was built at the present location, later fortified by the Crusaders. The following list shows a long chain of conquests and ruling empires over thousands of years.
The market in the old city is full of colors ,great smells and interesting place to walk and watch the action as the merchants are trying to sell their merchandise to the potential byers.
The alleys are narrow and with good imagination you can feel the how people lived here many years ago.
The port is one of the most important parts of the old part of the city,fisherman come and go with fresh fish delivering them directly to the market place,boat rides can be taken just for 10IL (2.5US$) and if you have a strong stomach he will take you beyond the the harbour to the open sea.
The city ancient walls ,the light house can be seen from every angle and so are some Mosque and Churches ,Muslims,Christians and Jews enjoy together what the city offers.
Years ago when people traveled with camels they would stop for the night in the HAN, where they can rest ,feed the animals and continue the journey in the next day
The old city is small and can be seen easily in one day including having a good fresh meal in a local restaurant facing the Mediterranean sea even in the winter-like we did today.
