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The capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the era of the Crusades, the ancient city of Acre was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 2001.

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Between the remnants of the Templars, the prison-museum which relates the fight for independence and the fortress where the Ottomans fought Napoleon, you can strongly feel the importance of history in Acre. Today it is a calm city where the economy is heavily tourist-based, which I noticed from the price of my freshly-squeezed orange juice bought from near the cathedral... For lunch, I enjoyed a little restaurant by the entrance to the market where I had some delicious houmous, still warm, for a very reasonable price. Meandering over the fortifications, I spend a moment watching the children diving into the water and fishing. I got the impressions that, in contrast to the cities in the south of Israel, the different religions coexisted peacefully in Acre. You can also visit a great many religious buildings, churches, synagogues and mosques and even a baha'i garden, a little way out of the centre but a true haven of peace.

The capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the era of the Crusades, the ancient city of Acre was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 2001.

I am passionate about history and come from a Christian family so I couldn't not go to Acre during my first <a href="/israel/">trip to Israel</a>. Israel is so small that the distances between places are not very big. Leaving from Tel Aviv, you can visit Acre in a single day. The town isn't very big. There is the new town that has been built outside the medieval walls, and the old town that is inside the fortifications. Most of the population are Arab, but Jews and Muslims live together peacefully and the town is tranquil and very charming. There are an incalculable number of historical sites (the Templar fortress, the old Turkish baths, the Templar tunnel, etc.) You also have to walk around the walls. Some beaches (especially one near the Templars' compound, which has cocktails and sunbeds on the sand,) are accessible from the old town and there are plenty of cafes and places to eat.

An ancient crossroads and important town of the Holy Land, Acre (Akko in Hebrew) or St John d'Acre, is nowadays a charming, mostly Muslim, town in the north of Israel.

Acre Vacations

Acre: How to get there?

Acre: When to go?

Acre: For how long?

Acre: What to see in the surroundings?