The old city of Akko or Acre is a walled city on the northern shores of the bay of Haifa. Its fortifications and ports bear witness to the long history of conquests and empires. On its present site, Akko possesses an extensive history and a fine blending of cultures from the Israelites to Romans, and from the Greeks to Arabs. The city houses the Shrine of the Baha'u'llah recognized by the UNESCO as one of the World Heritage sites on account of its extraordinary historical importance. A visit to its Old Fortress is like traversing the many layers of life and history of Akko. The Hall of the Crusader Knights at the Citadel was taken by the Manlukes and was completely destroyed in 1291. However, when the British government took over, they converted the fortress into a government building and a large cell. The Crusader's quarters passes through the Hospitaller Knights Hall complex, which is a part of the city's northern walls reaching up to the Turkish Haman or hot bath.
The Al Jazzar mosque and the Burj-al-Kuraijim (Vineyard Tower) also known as the British Fortress, are located in the western side of Akko. Walking along the city wall will lead to the southern most point marked by the lighthouse. From here one can take a glimpse of Akko's busy fruit, meat and fish market or stroll along the narrow alleys toward the marina. Akko has four main churches, and two monasteries serving to various Christian communities, the St. George Cathedral and the St. John's Church are the most prominent. In every sense, Akko is a beautiful place and every street corner is like a big canvas of history with its century old tress and local bazaars as the backdrop.
Akko can be reach by train or bus from the major cities in Israel. Service taxis are also available from Haifa to Akko and they are relatively cheaper than the bus.
