Acre City is known also as Akko. An ancient coastal city located in northern Israel has been inhabited since 3000 BC. Since the Bronze Age. The city is currently classified as one of the oldest cities and one of the world heritage cities according to UNESCO.
In the past, Acre was to the Asher tribe, and it was under the rule of the Israelites, then in the ninth century BC it became under the rule of the Assyrians, and in the sixth and fourth centuries BC it was ruled by the Phoenicians until it was invaded by Alexander the Great.
History
In the past, Acre was a major port in the Middle East, standing alongside Alexandria and Constantinople. Today, it is mostly inhabited by little fishing boats.
Acre, which was formerly a part of the kingdom of Israel, was conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.E. and later became a part of his empire. After taking control of the city, Ptolemy II of Egypt gave it the new name of Ptolemais in the second century B.C.E. Until the Muslim takeover in the 7th century CE, this name persisted; after that, the original name was reinstated. The Crusaders’ invasion in 1104, which led to the city becoming known as St. Jean d’Acre, or Acre for short, added to the confusion about its name.
The Latin Kingdom came to an end in 1291 when the Mamluks stormed and razed the city, murdering all of the remaining Crusaders. For about 500 years, Acre was not a significant urban center. Midway through the 18th century, the Bedouin sheikh Daher el-Omar established Acre as his city and erected a sizable stronghold there. Ahmad Pasha al-Jazzer, the Turkish administrator (1775–1804), subsequently reinforced it (“The Butcher”). One of Israel’s most exquisite structures is the mosque al-Jazzer constructed, which is also the most recognizable structure in the ancient city.
What can you visit in Bethlehem?
Fortifications
One of the fortifications built by the Crusaders is
The walls, which are amazing walls that go around the city, and it is the most characteristic thing in the city The fortifications were upgrade by Ahmad al-Jazzar in the eighteenth century.
Ahmed Al-Jazzar Mosque
Ahmed Pasha Al-Jazzar Mosque is one of the buildings built on the foundations of a crusader cathedral. built in 1781, in the style of the Ottoman mosques with a dome
Citadel
Inside the city walls is the castle of Ahmed al-Jazzar, which was built in the eighteenth century, and it was built on the ruins of a Crusader castle.
What To Do
Akko is a traditional beach city, thus despite its popularity and lack of organization, the atmosphere is really authentic.
One drawback would be the requirement to purchase a separate ticket in order to enter the majority of popular attractions.
As a result, if you want to see Israel on a tight budget, you’ll need to choose priorities.
Another thing you should probably be aware of is that you shouldn’t go to Akko full of food.
The city is full with excellent eateries, and we even discovered a few inexpensive places that offered great hummus.
Last but not least, Akko even entered popular culture as a result of its inclusion in Age of Empires II and Assassins Creed.
Akko or Acre
Before continuing to explore all that Akko has to offer, there is a crucial point we need to make clear.
The same location is called Akko, Acre, Akra, Acco, or possibly Akka.
When we were planned the vacation, we must admit that these numerous spellings were perplexing us.
Therefore, even if it may seem clear to some, we want to establish this as general knowledge right away.
To clarify the situation in this travel guide, we will refer to Akko by that name.
Although we aren’t experts on the subject, from what we’ve observed, the word acre is more frequently used in English, however even that isn’t always the case.
Where To Stay
Akko is a location that may be used for a variety of things, thus many sorts of travelers also go there.
The first category consists of tourists who wish to explore Akko’s streets and top attractions.
Travelers who love to laze about on the beach and soak up the sun make up the second category. And absolutely, a third group that combines both may exist.
Akko also offers accommodations that are ideal for various types of travelers, from boutique hotels with prime locations to beach resort-style buildings.
Weather and Climate in Bethlehem
In ‘Akko, the summers are hot, muggy, arid, and clear and the winters are cool, wet, and mostly clear. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 50°F to 87°F and is rarely below 44°F or above 90°F. which has pleasant, sunny summers and mild, dry winters (with chilly nights) (during which thunderstorms often break out).
Summers are long, lasting from May to September, with July and August being the hottest months. Temperatures range between 23-36° C (75-96° F) and you can expect 50-90% humidity. The good news is that there is air-conditioning almost everywhere you go, from buses and taxis to malls and hotels. However, it is really important to prepare for these temperatures, especially when spending time outdoors. Buy good sun protection, wear long but cool clothes and make sure to drink plenty of water.
Autumn is, for the most part, a continuation of the summer weather. It does get a little cooler and the humidity drops, so it is more comfortable. The season starts in September and at the end of November it starts getting cooler and we might see a little rain, but not too much. September is usually as warm as summer, but the temperatures in autumn are similar to those of spring and range between 16-24° C (60-75° F).
Depending where you come from you might not even consider the city weather “real winter weather”. This is the wettest time of the year and temperatures range between 6-15° C (42-60° F). Israeli schools have a winter break for Channukah during December, this usually doesn’t affect accommodation but activities tend to get crowded. Also, tourists from nearby countries use their winter breaks to enjoy the warmer temperatures in this city.
Spring is between March and May and this is the ideal time to visit this city. You usually won’t see much rain and the temperatures are mild, ranging between 16-24° C (60-75° F), although the nights might still be chilly. Passover falls in April so if you are planning on visiting during this time keep in mind that prices of flights and accommodation will rise and tend to get booked early.
When is the best time to book my flight ?
There are many different factors that effect each route and so the bad news is – no one rule fits all. But, the good news is that Hopper, a Boston-based start up that analyses flight data and predicts the best time to book a specific flight is doing a great job (they are right 95% of the time), so we suggest checking out their predictions for your flight.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Akko
It is reasonable to assume that any season is suitable for sightseeing in Akko if you are not only there for the beaches.
If we were being very choosy, we may advise you to travel to Akko from April to November.
Despite the fact that the summer months (June to August) would likely be too hot for us, it is the weather-wise greatest season to visit Israel.
We prefer to travel in the off-peak months, and we discovered that November was the ideal month to see the country because there was no rain and the temperatures were tolerable.
Safety
Akko did, in fact, feel a little left out, especially closer to the fish market, but we’d think that’s relatively typical in communities with comparable demographics. Due to the high visitor traffic in the city center, it is important to protect your belongings from opportunistic thieves. Checking the local news often for the most recent developments is one of the greatest methods to be safe in Israel.