After visiting the old city of Jerusalem, if you expect to have a similar experience in Israel, Acco will be the better option. Akko’s 5,000-plus-year history may be longer even than Jerusalem’s. One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the whole world, Acre's Old City have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is mentioned in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics dating back 3,500 years. In Acco you will be able to see the fingerprints of many peoples and religious movements. During the course of time the city was also known as Ake, Acre and Ptolemias. The Canaanites, the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Crusaders, the Mamelukes, the Mongols, the Turks and the British, all fought for Acco. Visited by prominent Jewish scholars as Maimonides, Benjamin of Tudela and Nahmanides, Akko became known for Jewish study centre. Many famous non-Jews have also visited Acco. Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, St. Francis of Assisi, Marco Polo, Richard the Lion-Heart and Napolean Bonaparte are a few to name. In 1191, Richard the Lion-Heart established the crusader kingdom here for 100 years, as Jerusalem temporarily stayed under Muslim rule; Acco became capital of the Crusader Kingdom. On his campaign in 1799 to Egypt and Israel, with the intention to storm onwards to India, Napoleon Bonaparte laid siege to Acco. However, he failed miserably and retired back to Egypt and from there took a ship back to Paris. He claimed that if this port city had fallen to him, “the world would have been mine".
In ancient times, all ships that arrived Israel from abroad would stop at the port of Acco. In the Old Testament, Acco is mentioned only once as one of the places (promised to the tribe of Asher) from which the Israelites did not drive out the Canaanite inhabitants and (Jud. 1:31). In the New Testament, Acco was one of the stops on St. Paul’s final return to Jerusalem (Acts 21:7). The final years of Bahau'llah's life were spent in the house of Bahjí, just outside Acre. He died on May 29, 1892 here, and his shrine is the most holy place for Bahá'ís. The sea and marina, filled with fishing boats, provide an attractive backdrop for those touring the city, so much so that brides and grooms can be seen being photographed here in the late afternoon, before their wedding ceremonies are to begin in some other area of Haifa, Acco or in between. Today, most of the Crusader city lies buried under the walls and buildings reconstructed by the Turks. The Crusader city was some 7-8 meters lower than the current city. A brief introduction to the places we visited in Acco old city
Crusader city and fortress
A typical crusader structure and the main attraction of old city of Acco. The Knight's Halls inside this fort city are believed to be the barracks of the Knights, who were responsible for the defense of the Crusader Kingdom. The Crusader Knights were fighters and monks at the same time, and had very strict moral codes and they could not marry. They have become the raw material for many of the legends and stories related to Holy Grail. The fort is also important to contemporary Israeli history when Jewish freedom fighters were imprisoned here by the British. After escape attempts from within were abandoned, they successfully stormed the prison. Their escape from the prison became more legendary when Leon Uris’ wrote the classic "Exodus" based on this incident. Earlier, Turks also used this fort as a prison where Bahaullah was imprisoned.
Al –Jazzar Mosque
Al-Jazzar is the third largest mosque in Israel. It was built by Ahmad Al-Jazzar (who defeated Napolean at the siege of Acre in 1799) in 1781 over San Croce, the original Christian cathedral of Acco. A lock of hair said to have been taken from the beard of Prophet Muhammad is kept in the mosque in a metal case and is shown once a year during Id ul-Fitr.
Templer's Tunnel
The Templars, who were also known as the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, built this tunnel. This order was established during crusader time to ensure protection to the Christian pilgrims from Muslims. It is about 1050 feet long. The tunnel was discovered in 1994 accidentally when a woman complained problem with her drainage system. It was filled with debris for centuries and was opened to the public in September 1999. Today, with changed sea level and geography, the tunnel is below ground water. To maintain a fixed water level, a special water pumping system was installed and a wooden walkway was constructed above the water so that water can be seen on either side of the walkway.
The Walls
Surrounded by the sea on three quarters of its sides, Acco's great walls were rebuilt by Al-Jazzar while defending Napoleon. The original walls date from crusaders time.
http://www.jewishmag.com/30MAG/acco/acco.htm
http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/336
http://www.bibleplaces.com/acco.htm
http://www.akko.org.il/english/main/default.asp
In ancient times, all ships that arrived Israel from abroad would stop at the port of Acco. In the Old Testament, Acco is mentioned only once as one of the places (promised to the tribe of Asher) from which the Israelites did not drive out the Canaanite inhabitants and (Jud. 1:31). In the New Testament, Acco was one of the stops on St. Paul’s final return to Jerusalem (Acts 21:7). The final years of Bahau'llah's life were spent in the house of Bahjí, just outside Acre. He died on May 29, 1892 here, and his shrine is the most holy place for Bahá'ís. The sea and marina, filled with fishing boats, provide an attractive backdrop for those touring the city, so much so that brides and grooms can be seen being photographed here in the late afternoon, before their wedding ceremonies are to begin in some other area of Haifa, Acco or in between. Today, most of the Crusader city lies buried under the walls and buildings reconstructed by the Turks. The Crusader city was some 7-8 meters lower than the current city. A brief introduction to the places we visited in Acco old city
Crusader city and fortress
A typical crusader structure and the main attraction of old city of Acco. The Knight's Halls inside this fort city are believed to be the barracks of the Knights, who were responsible for the defense of the Crusader Kingdom. The Crusader Knights were fighters and monks at the same time, and had very strict moral codes and they could not marry. They have become the raw material for many of the legends and stories related to Holy Grail. The fort is also important to contemporary Israeli history when Jewish freedom fighters were imprisoned here by the British. After escape attempts from within were abandoned, they successfully stormed the prison. Their escape from the prison became more legendary when Leon Uris’ wrote the classic "Exodus" based on this incident. Earlier, Turks also used this fort as a prison where Bahaullah was imprisoned.
Al –Jazzar Mosque
Al-Jazzar is the third largest mosque in Israel. It was built by Ahmad Al-Jazzar (who defeated Napolean at the siege of Acre in 1799) in 1781 over San Croce, the original Christian cathedral of Acco. A lock of hair said to have been taken from the beard of Prophet Muhammad is kept in the mosque in a metal case and is shown once a year during Id ul-Fitr.
Templer's Tunnel
The Templars, who were also known as the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, built this tunnel. This order was established during crusader time to ensure protection to the Christian pilgrims from Muslims. It is about 1050 feet long. The tunnel was discovered in 1994 accidentally when a woman complained problem with her drainage system. It was filled with debris for centuries and was opened to the public in September 1999. Today, with changed sea level and geography, the tunnel is below ground water. To maintain a fixed water level, a special water pumping system was installed and a wooden walkway was constructed above the water so that water can be seen on either side of the walkway.
The Walls
Surrounded by the sea on three quarters of its sides, Acco's great walls were rebuilt by Al-Jazzar while defending Napoleon. The original walls date from crusaders time.
http://www.jewishmag.com/30MAG/acco/acco.htm
http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/336
http://www.bibleplaces.com/acco.htm
http://www.akko.org.il/english/main/default.asp
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