Acre (ACRE)
Acc — City in the historic region Western Galilee in Israel, located on the seashore of the Mediterranean, 23 kilometers north of Haifa. ACCO Square — ten.3 km², And the population is only 47 thousand people. In 2001, the Old Town of AKKO was listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Climate in Accu
Acc – The city with the Mediterranean climate. To get comfortably walking around the city and inspect the sights, it is better to go here in March, April, early May or in October. From the end of November to February in Accra, as in most of the territory of Israel, there are strong shines and blows cold, penetrating the wind. In this weather, you can not ride a boat, hiking will be uncomfortable. And to avoid breakdowns, do not take pictures.
From mid-May to mid-October, hot weather is installed. Those who do not tolerate heat should not come to accommodation in the summer months. In June, August and September, the water temperature in the sea rises to 28-29°C, although you can also swim in June and October.
History Akko
7 thousand years ago, settlements of the Yarmuk culture were located here – one of the first ceramic crops of Levanta.
The first mentions of ACCO in written sources appeared about 40 centuries ago. The city played a huge role in the history and development of the country due to the international trade routes passing through it. Already then he received his current name: in written sources of 1456 BC. NS. Among the cities conquered by Tathermommos III, the city was mentioned as AAC. In different epochs, AKKO belonged to Hanaanu, the Hittt kingdom, Phenicia, Assyria, Persia. The Greeks with the Romans left their traces here. Until now, the ruins of their ancient ports are preserved near the fortress wall. During the Greek, Roman and Byzantine Board, Acro was called Ptolemiad, Antioch and Claudia Caesaris. Muslims who captured the city in the VII century. NS., returned to him for the same name. In the XI century, the Crusaders walked acroo from Muslims and made it the capital of the Jerusalem kingdom.
In 1291, Mamli attacked the city, destroyed it and destroyed almost all the inhabitants. More than two centuries, a large port turned into a small fishing village. Only in 1517, Sultan Selim I defeated the troops of Mamlukov and joined the city to the Ottoman Empire. Then the restoration of Accra began, and soon he again became the port of international importance.
The historic part of the city, preserved to the present day, gained its current appearance in the XVIII-XIX centuries. A significant contribution to the History of ACCO made the Palestinian ruler Al-Jazzar of Bosnian origin. During his reign, the city has developed and flourished. In 1799, Al-Jazzar with his adviser, the Jew Haim Farhi, and the English Admiral Sydney Smith was able to confront the attack of Napoleon’s troops Bonaparte. In the future, the city has repeatedly passed from the Turks to the British and back. In 1948, during the Arab-Israeli war, AccCo was part of Israel. Destroyed buildings, including the fortress wall, were almost completely restored. Archaeological excavations have begun in the city and are being conducted to this day. Now you can see with your own eyes the thickness of the cultural layer accoly can anyone. Objects of historical significance, including those that went underground, are open to visit.
Attractions Akko
A huge number of attractions are concentrated on a small area of the old town. The most ancient and interesting are underground, but tourists can visit only some of them. Archaeologists continue to work on other objects. During the excavations, new artifacts appear, revealing the riddles of the departments.
Citadel
The fortress of the XVIII century, built by an outstanding ruler Dahar El Omar – one of the most grandiose structures acbook. The height of its buildings reaches 40 meters. In the time of El Lomar, the residence of the city authorities, weapons warehouse and army barracks were located in the fortress. Powerful defensive walls withstood numerous siege and attacks. It was this citadel who repelled the onslaught of the French led by Napoleon Bonaparte. Since then, no one has decided to attack AKKO. In the XIX century, part of the fortress buildings was laid under the prison. Here he conducted in the conclusion of more than forty years of Baha’u’lla – the founder of Bachhasma, peaceful islamic sect. In 1920, the writer and journalist Vladimir (Zeave) Zhabotinsky were sentenced to religious work in the Acre prison for 15 years, but was soon amnestied.
In 1948, after the formation of the state, Israel in the Citadel opened the city museum and began excavations. A huge network of underground tunnels was discovered, as well as the halls of the Crusaders.
Knight’s halls
Where the citadel is being tested now, the Castle’s quarter was located in the Middle Ages. Here were residential and administrative premises, the residence of the Master Order, the shelter for pilgrims, the hospital and the Church of St. John – the religious center of the city of that time. Late Romanesque Style traced in build architecture. Halfments up to 10 meters high were built in the XII-XIII centuries, when the accompanied by Muslims AKKO became the capital of the Jerusalem state. The most majestic hall is a reflector, presumably serving the meal. Here are preserved arched arched arches, window openings and the symbols of the Order of Hospitallers. Capturing Acre Muslims tried to destroy the city, but archaeologists managed to restore a significant part of Christian buildings. From the huge sizes of St. John’s Cathedral that had 900 years ago, only Crypt was preserved – the chapel near the altar, where he was buried by particularly revered citizens. Until now, in the broken stones, you can learn the gravestone Master of the Master of the Order and the Bishop of Nazareth.
In the museum, visitors can familiarize themselves with the layout of an ancient architectural complex that existed before the destruction of Muslims in 1291.
Tunnel Templar
In the XII century, builders who prevail new buildings in the growing accommodation, found long transitions under the ground, built even during the reign of Persians. Most likely, initially transitions served as sewer. Crusaders expanded them and increased in height, connecting the fortress that was standing in those days on the seashore, with the Western port. The tunnel has become an important strategic object.
Archaeologists discovered it only in the early 1990s, when a resident of the city complained about the problems with the sewer. To clean the tunnel from garbage and dirt and arrangement for tourists left five years. Now the Templary tunnel is one of the most visited attractions of Acre. Any tourist can pass 350 meters under low vaults on the wooden flooring, laid right above the underground river, and after a walk to see a colorful cartoon about History acro on Hebrew.
Fortress Wall
Powerful stone walls surrounding ACCO and give it a unique charm of the Middle Ages, built by no means in the era of the Crusaders. Construction of walls with fortress towers began in 1750 and lasted more than ninety years. A gun was installed near each loophole so that in the event of an attack you could shoot any of the approaches from the sea or land. In 1910, the ACCO authorities decided to break through two passages in the wall for convenient entry into the old town.
Now the wall has been turned into a picturesque embankment with restaurants, which are completely free of charge both tourists and locals. In one of its parts, the guns of the middle of the XIX century are exhibited.
Khan El-Dudan
In 1784, Al-Jazzar built a large innovative courtyard in East – Khan. For its construction, 40 ancient granite columns from Caisaria, Atlita and other destroyed Ancient Roman cities were brought. Thanks to these columns, the complex received its name: Translated from Arabic “Khan El-Dudan” means “courtyard columns”. The courtyard around the perimeter was surrounded by two-story buildings with open arched galleries. 25 rooms were located on each floor. On the second floor there were traders who arrived at the ACCO port, and on the first they kept their goods. In the center of the courtyard was buried well.
In the 19th century, Baha’u’lla settled at the innhouse, and opened here Baháhism. At the beginning of the 20th century, large-scale restoration work was conducted in Khan El-Dudan, and the hour tower with four dials – Arab, Roman, Indian and Hebrew was built. Nowadays, Khan El-Duddan is open to visit, and an observation deck with a circular review has been created on the clock tower.
Bahai Gardens
Despite the fact that the world is known primarily by the Bahai Gardens in Haifa, the Sacred City of Baháhism’s followers is accurate. It was there that I spent my last days the founder of the sect – Baha’u’llah. He died in the bachji mansion 2 kilometers from Acro. Now the walls of the mansion are painted in white, and doors and windows shutters – in blue. A beautiful garden with hundred flowers and plants, blooming all year round, broken around it. Visitors can walk throughout the garden: unlike terraces in Haifa, all the passages are open here. Come to the clock specified on the official website. Bahai Gardens Acco are outside the city, you can get to them by public transport.
AccCo was one of the largest Mediterranean port cities from the moment of founding. Modern port accomo exists from the XVIII-XIX centuries. In the 1990s, the status of international nautical gates was transferred to Haifa, a developing rapid pace. Losting its strategic importance, the port of AccCo became the main decoration of the city. The ruins of the medieval fortress are preserved here. From here there is a stunning view of the main attractions of the city. In the port are private boats, sailboats and boats. Their owners in vain offer sea walk to tourists. Also from the port of AKCO twice a day is sent a cruise ship in Haifa.
Features of visiting acc
Tourists who go to ACBO for the first time and expect to see a reduced copy of Jerusalem, waiting for disappointment. From the oldest greatness preserved not so much, therefore it is not necessary to go to ACCO for all vacation – the city, including his museums, can be completely examined in 1-2 days. Unfortunately, tourists may encounter not the most pleasant features of the city.
In the old town there is a lot of garbage and mud. Despite the fact that the historical center of Acre is protected by UNESCO, its inhabitants do not make the meaning of cleanliness. In the middle of the street there can be a mountain garbage, near the monuments of the architecture of international importance – plastic bottles and cups. Vintage arched transitions serve as a public toilet. And the beach, which is located in a kilometer from the port, and reminds the city dump.
Traveling alone women in acbooks are not happy. Among the local population a lot of Arabs. They negatively perceive alone women of European species and shout after insulting. Does not solve the problem and modest clothes. However, with such an attitude, you can only encounter early in the morning or late in the evening, when there are no tourists on the streets of the city who came with organized excursions. And the exactly opposite way, local residents belong to women who come with children, husbands or parents. The most unrelated inhabitants of Acre – sellers in the market.
In AccCo it is impossible to exchange currency. There is not a single exchanger in the old town. Of course, it is possible to pay dollars, but the sales of sellers and cashiers in the museums will give at the most disadvantageous course. Therefore, it is better to buy in advance shekels in the exchangers of Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat or any Mediterranean resort.
Food in the historical part of the tasteless. Prices for Falafel and Schwarm, who are so loved by the tourists of Israel, the same as in all cities. Only the quality of traditional dishes of Israeli street cuisine here is much worse – the cooks save the filling and try to put as few vegetables as possible in Peit or Lavash. It is possible to eat in the accumulator only in expensive restaurants. Those who cannot afford to give $ 50 for dinner per person, it is better to take a snack with you.
In the Accra market there are no authentic things handmade. The ACCO market is often mentioned in guidebooks, but there is nothing that it would be interesting to tourists. Most of the goods are cheap clothes, dishes, household items. In souvenir shops, magnets and goods from India, China and Thailand are sold with a large markup. Only oriental sweets deserve attention, but also to buy them in other places: Sellers in Acre often deceive European tourists.
How to get to Acco
Tourists arrive in Israel to one of two airports: Ben-Gurion in Tel Aviv or Ovda in Eilat. Direct buses and train to Acre do not go from them. Similarly, there is no direct transport link between AccCo and Eilat, as well as Jerusalem, Tourist Mecca Israel. Pour the most optimal public transport route will help the Moovit application, which are used absolutely all the Israelis.
Through Accco, one of the main railways of Israel, connecting Beer Shev and Nagaria. Trains go once a hour and pass through all coastal Mediterranean cities, including Tel Aviv, Haifa and Netanya. The path from the main railway station Tel Aviv will take about one and a half hours, from Haifa – just over half an hour. The train is best to take places on the left side: on the entrance to Acre opens a beautiful view of the port. From the railway station to the Old Town – 1.6 kilometers. You can walk on foot, and you can pass 600 meters to stop Ben AMI and take the N302 bus. Fare cost – 4.80 shekels.
By bus
Daily from Haifa walks a few buses towards AccCo. To the city itself, they do not reach – you will have to transfer to another bus. Direct buses from Tel Aviv no. Thus, the bus ride from any city of Israel to Acco will be more expensive and longer than by train.
