Old City of Acre

From the World Heritage inscription for the Old City of Acre:

Acre is a historic walled port-city with continuous settlement from the Phoenician period. The present city is characteristic of a fortified town dating from the Ottoman 18th and 19th centuries, with typical urban components such as the citadel, mosques, khans, and baths. The remains of the Crusader town, dating from 1104 to 1291, lie almost intact, both above and below today’s street level, providing an exceptional picture of the layout and structures of the capital of the medieval Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem.

The World Heritage Committee inscribed The Old City of Acre on the World Heritage List under criteria (ii), (iii), and (v):

Criterion (ii): Acre is an exceptional historic town in that it preserves the substantial remains of its medieval Crusader buildings beneath the existing Moslem fortified town dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Criterion (iii): The remains of the Crusader town of Acre, both above and below the present-day street level, provide an exceptional picture of the layout and structures of the capital of the medieval Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Criterion (v): Present-day Acre is an important example of an Ottoman walled town, with typical urban components such as the citadel, mosques, khans, and baths well preserved, partly built on top of the underlying Crusader structures.

A former Crusader castle and Ottoman fort, the old city of Acre is still inhabited today. Mostly home to Israeli Arabs, I witnessed kids going to school and an Arab wedding within the walls of the old city. Much of the original Crusader structures are underground, where a network of tunnels was built.

Overview

Old City of Acre

The Old City of Acre is one of the oldest cities that remain inhabited until today. The history of this city dates back to Pharaoh Thutmose III’s rule in ancient Israel, or as far back as the Middle Bronze Age. As long and rich as the history of the city is, the number of monuments and historical structures in the city are one of the most concentrated as with any old cities in Israel can be. If you walk around the city, you will a labyrinth filled with historic alleys, and ruins from the time of the Crusaders, Islamic and Ottoman conquerors.

The city is geographically located in the northern coastal plain region of Israel’s Northern District. The location of the city is therefore considered important as it links waterways and commercial activity. The harbor location is one of the reasons why it has sustained itself throughout centuries and has benefited from the trading route activities in the area.

History: Old City of Acre

The Old City of Acre was once the leading port in the Middle East, not just of Israel. It is on the same level as Alexandria and Constantinople in terms of port activity. According to history, Acre was incorporated into the empire of Alexander the Great until the city was seized by Ptolemy II. During that time, the city was renamed to Ptolemais until the 2nd century BCE. This was the city’s name until the time of the Muslim Conquest wherein the ancient name Acre was restored. This led to some confusion for the Crusaders in 1104.

Old City of Acre

The oldest settlement in the Old City of Acre can be found in the tell or archaeological mounds in modern-day Acre. The tell was known as Tel Akko (in Hebrew) and was believed to have dated back to the Early Bronze Age I. The settlement was a farming community that was wiped out after only two centuries – probably because the settlers were forced to move to another location with the threat of rising waters along the coast.

From then on, Acre was inhabited and continues to be although the city underwent a lot of conquest and destruction that it gradually fell into decay. The most recent invasion or conquest was in the mid-13th century when the control of the city was taken from the Crusaders. By the 14th and 15th centuries, it has become a large fishing village and continues to be up to modern times.

Important Structures

The structures and monuments that have existed and survived in the Old City of Acre are the sole reminders of its long and storied past. Hence, UNESCO and the local government have joined hand in hand in restoring and preserving these important monuments that serve as the sole reminder of the city’s long history. Below are some of the most notable landmarks that you will find in the Old City of Acre:

Hospitaller Refectory – This is an ancient structure made with complex of halls under the citadel and prison in the Old City of Acre. This was used and built for by the Knights Hospitaller, according to archaeologists. It is just one structure that belongs to the Hospitaller’s Citadel and a part of the defense structure in Acre. The structure consists of semi-joined halls, Gothic church, dungeon, a large hall, and refectory or dining room.

Old City of Acre

Citadel of Acre – This is an Ottoman fortification that makes up a huge portion of what is left of the citadel today. This structure was built on the foundation of the Knights Hospitaller citadel. It was built primarily as a defensive structure to reinforce the northern wall of the city.

Al-Jazzar Mosque – This mosque was built in the late 18th century but is one of the most recognizable structures in Acre. Within the mosque’s graveyard, you will also find buried the remains of Jazzar Pasha and Sulayman Pasha al-Adil.

There are several other medieval sites found within the Old City of Acre such as the Church of Saint George, houses at Genovese Square, the city walls and Hamam al-Basha, among other things.


View the complete list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Israel.

Gary Arndt
Gary Arndt

Gary began traveling the world in 2007. His travels have taken him to over 200 countries and territories and 400 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

He is a 3x Lowell Thomas Award winner and a 3x North American Travel Photographer of the Year.