Akko

Akko Travel Blog

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May 8th, 2010 – by: Haselager

Akko

We call it Akko, in English the city is more known as Acre. Akko is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel. It is situated on a low promontory at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Akko is not a big city, is has a population of about 46,000. Akko has a great history which still can be seen in the old city. Historically Akko has played a key role in history due to its strategic coastal location. The city is predominantly Jewish, with a smaller Arab population. Akko is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in Israel. It was first mentioned 1,600 BC by pharao Thutmose III. In the Bible Akko is one of the places from which the Israelites did not drive out the Canaanites. Around 725 BC Akko joined the cities Sidon and Tyre in a revolt against Salmaneser V of Assyria.

Akko

The city became a few hundred years later under rule of Cleopatra of Egypt, Armenia, the Roman and Byzantine Emperor before it was captured by the Muslims in 638. Akko played a very important role in the time of the Crusaders (capturing it in 1104), and became capital in the Crusaders Kingdom in 1192. That lasted for almost 100 years, till a bloody siege by the Muslims in 1291. Selim I of the Ottoman empire captured the city in 1517 and that was also the end of the dominent place this city took. After a hundred years this city was declined to a small village with a lot of old ruines.

Nowdays this the city still has a lot left of it's old caracter. Especially the part near to the see has still has a lot of it's past. The small city is very popular by daily visitors who want to see the old city in it's glory. We visited only the old part of the city. Akko is wonderfull for a few hours walk in this part of the town close to the sea.