As a private tour guide in Israel, I am often asked, “Where should we visit?”  Akko is way up there.

Akko is one of the oldest cities in the world. Situated on the Mediterranean, it connects Europe with Asia; in ancient times Egypt with Mesopotamia and Rome with Palestine.

Now a United Nations World Heritage site, Akko (sometimes spelled “Acre”) is most known for its Crusader ruins.

The Old City today is mostly Ottoman, that is most of what we see is later than 1850, but it’s what is underneath the ground that is so fascinating: buried by time, this ancient Crusader city is now open for business.

Mentioned in Egyptian annals and Roman histories, Akko came into its own with the Crusaders in the Holy Land.

Though Jerusalem falls to the European knights in July, 1099, it will take five more years for the invaders to subdue Akko. When the First Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem falls to Saladin in 1187, four years later Akko will be the new capital of the kingdom – and it will become the richest city in the world at that time.

Everybody wanted a piece of Akko. Split up into separate quarters; each with its own courts, administration and army, Akko was definitely a house divided. Though the king ruled on paper, the military orders of the Knights of the Hospital (the Hospitalers) and the Knights of the Temple (the Templars) were the main brawn of the kingdom. The Italian city states of Genoa, Venice, Pisa and Amalfi were the economic and naval superpowers of the day.

All of the wealth of the East funneled through Akko on its way west; but not only wealth made its way there: knowledge and learning, especially mathematics, astronomy and medicine reached Europe.

Today, Akko is a must on any itinerary. Be sure to see the Knights’ Halls, the Templar’s Tunnels, (you can pass the bathhouse, this is mainly for Israelis), and the port. Make sure to eat maybe the best humus you’ve ever had. My favorite is Shamsei’s, but Sayeed is only nothing to sneeze at.
Enjoy!