Acre - Israel

Acre is amazing and unmissable, a fantastic place to visit (don't forget to use bitbook.net and get the best prices and an amazing cashback.)

Acre, Israel, is a city in layers, or perhaps a patchwork quilt, that have been overlapping throughout history. After passing through the Persian, Byzantine, Crusader, Mamluk, Ottoman, British and, finally, Israeli domains, it gained a special symbolism and heritage from the most diverse cultures. In 2001, for its incredible historical and archaeological richness, the old city of Acre was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

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The city of the crusades:

Centuries of history, invasions and domains of different peoples and cultures make Acre, Israel, one of the most interesting cities in the country. Located on a peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea in northern Israel, Acre (or Akko in Hebrew) is the capital of Western Galilee, and a place that will take you back in time. The old city, surrounded by walls from the 18th century that are practically intact until today, brings together several historical attractions, delicious cuisine and many religions living in coexistence. Or, as they prefer to say there, "in existence"

Arriving in Akko is to feel the rhythm slow down along with the city. Even the market and port, the busiest places, have their own rhythm. Acre has 53,000 inhabitants, but it is in the old city “where things happen”. Several Arab families remaining from the British Mandate period in Palestine still live there. And, even with the majority of Jews around, Christians, Druze and Bahá'í, the climate there is one of harmony and tranquility.

At the time of the Crusaders (12th century) Akko was an ancient fortress and part of the kingdom of Jerusalem. It was called São João de Acre. Tunnels and halls that were part of the fortress were only rediscovered and excavated in 1994 and today it is possible to visit them! Since then, the region began to attract more and more tourists. Acre was also famous for the famous failed invasion attempt by Napoleon Bonaparte during the 'Siege of Acre' in 1799. There Napoleon officially "lost the war" to the Ottomans.

The main and most important attraction of Acre is the imposing Citadel, also known as the Knights' Rooms, and the site of the Hospitalários Fort, initially built by the Crusaders around the year 1110. The fort was named in honor of the Knights' Order. Hospitallers. In 1187, the Crusaders were expelled from Acre by the Muslim army, but they returned soon after, in 1191, with the victory of King Richard the Lionheart. At that time, the Order of the Hospitallers was no longer able to regain the city of Jerusalem and Acre then became the capital of the second kingdom of the Crusaders. The fort became the “headquarters” of the Crusaders and was expanded. It gained three floors, important halls, an underground area and a sewer system.

When Akko was later taken over by the Ottoman Empire, Governor Pasha Al-Jazzar tore down and rebuilt much of the fort, making it his castle. But much was hidden under the earth. Since 1994, an area of 5000 m2 has already been excavated. Incredible artifacts and spaces from the Crusader era were found there, such as the refectory, the Templar Tunnel and the sewer system, also used for escapes in times of war.

Something to fall in love with in Israel are the markets! In different cities, they sell the most amazing food, handicrafts, clothes and everything else you can imagine. In Acre it is no different. What changes there is that the markets, also located in the old part of the city, are more empty and quieter to walk around. It is really worth visiting the Turkish Bazaar, an 18th century market that was vacated at the time of Israel's independence, but has returned to function in recent years. The crafts there are very different from what you find in the rest of the country!

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How to get to Acre:

By train: Trains depart regularly from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa to northern Israel. Just take one that stops at Akko Station. It is a 15-minute walk from the historic center. The train journey from Tel Aviv to Akko takes approximately 1h20

By car: take road 4 north. After passing through Haifa, turn left at the Ein HaMifratz intersection and travel along the coast. Turn left at the first traffic light and follow signs.

By boat/ferry: if you are in the city of Haifa, one option is to take the ferry boat that goes straight to the port of Acre. But pay attention and confirm the days and times, as it only operates four days a week and with few daily departures.

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Now that you've got all the tips, all you have to do is set up the itinerary, choose the accommodation using BITBOOK.NET, pack your suitcase and throw yourself into the charm of this amazing place.

I have no doubt that you will have unforgettable days. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and we'll be happy to answer them!

Safe travel and enjoy this amazing place!