This day we drove north from Haifa to Akko (called Acre in the Bible). Akko sits on the coastal plane and has a natural harbor. It dates to the Bronze age and has been shaped by Romans, Ottomans, Crusaders, Mamelukes, Byzantines, and the British. The Akko Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Akko is also a mixed Israeli city with Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, and Baha’i’s.

Our main visit was to the Crusader Citadel and Knights Halls. It was layers of stone-walled and stone-vaulted chambers, tunnels, and rooms. This was where the medieval knights patrolled, dined, and prayed. Other uses of the chambers included space for artisans, production of sugar, treating sick and wounded, shelter, vendors, and storage. We spent a good deal of our time here underground.

The first photo was near the entrance and gives an idea of the scope of the ruins.

We spent most of our time in areas like the second photo. Each of the chambers is a really large area.

I believe that the next photo was the Beautiful Hall, where pilgrims en route to the Holy Land were welcomed.

I think the next photo was the dining room. Wow, if those pillars could talk…

The last photo was just another outside photo but I can’t remember the purpose of this space.