Knights' Halls, Old Akko

Akko (also known as Acre in English and Akka in Arabic) is somehow overlooked by many tourists coming to Israel. It's one of the most historic and scenic towns in the whole country. The city embodies a melange of Arab and Jewish culture that is unique to Northern Israel. And the hummus is some of the best in the country. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Akko dates back almost 5,000 years prior as a Phoenician city on the coast. Today, Akko's character is most known as the predominatant stronghold of the Crusaders between 1100 and 1300. The city was briefly reconquered by Salah ad-Din (aka Saladin) before the Crusaders regained control during the Third Crusade - a control that lasted until 1291 when Akko was the last city to be conquered by the Muslim rulers. In later years, Akko served as a major port city. Napoleon attempted to conquer the city but failed miserably (this happening after his forces barely took control of Jaffa further south). In the 1890's, Akko became the home of Baha'u'llah, an imprisoned missionary who founded the Bahai faith. He spent his last days in Akko until his death; he is buried outside of the city (not open to the public) and the town remains a key pilgrimage site for those of the Bahai faith. Since the foundation of Israel (or the Nakba by Palestinian views) the town of Akko has become one of the most mixed cities in Israel, with 32 percent of the town being Arab (mostly in the old city). Much of your visit will allow you to see the various cultural fabrics that make up the beautiful city of Akko!