Wed., 1/25/23 - Akko and Rosh HaNikra Caves
Akko (or Acre) is a fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site. Akko was originally a Greek port town taken by Romans and fortified into a prominent trading port connecting the Silk Road and places all around the Mediterranean. The Arabs came next to Akko and then the Crusaders (four crusades ended there) and then the Persians, Ottomans, etc. We were visiting the city underneath the present city which was built by crusaders - the Hospitallers and Templars. After a short, comical movie, we walked underground through the Knights’ Hall, the refectory, etc. using a hand held audio guide. There were 44 stops, all underground, wandering through the maze of vaulted rooms. The tour was an interesting, but overwhelming, 1 1/2-hour history lesson.
IEC Tower in Haifa at sunrise
Haifa: Baha’i Gardens on Mt Carmel
Haifa Skyline
Akko Municipal Stadium
Map of Akko
Model of the Hospitaller Fortress - Knights Halls
Hospitaller Fortress - Entry
Hospitaller Fortress - Entry
Example of the information placards provided
throughout the museum
Hospitaller Fortress - Interior walls and structures
Book illustration
Tombstone - probably of William de Sancto Johanne bishop of Nazareth ca. 1290 CE
There was an advanced sugar industry in the Holy Land
Vessels for the crystallizing of sugar
Pottery
Knights Hall
Knights Hall - Interior
Banner
Banners
Anchor
Face in the Hole Board - a game
We rejoined our group and stopped at a coppersmith’s workshop. The young man (fourth generation coppersmith) demonstrated his skill by making a copper bracelet in about two minutes by hammering different dies to create a pattern on the copper strip. (No photos allowed.)
Next visit was to the Mosque of El-Jazzar. The women had to cover their hair but didn’t need to remove their shoes because we did not enter the carpeted prayer floor. It is a beautifully decorated mosque.
Mosque of El-Jazzar
Entry to the Mosque of El-Jazzar
Mosque of El-Jazzar
Mosque of El-Jazzar - Interior
Mosque of El-Jazzar - Mihrab
Mosque of El-Jazzar
Mosque of El-Jazzar
Mosque of El-Jazzar - Decoration above a light fixture
As we wandered through the narrow, crooked souk looking into the interesting shops, we came upon a vendor advertising fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice. Our TEL purchased a cupful for each of us. It was pretty good!
Sign advertising fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice
Squeezing pomegranates for juice
Squeezing pomegranates for juice
In the Souk - Candy
In the Souk - Fish
In the Souk - Spices
In the Souk - Bread in the oven
In the Souk - Bread
In the Souk - Dream Catchers
In the Souk - Nuts
In the Souk
In the Souk - Fancy presses
Jerusalem Cross on the door of St. John the Baptist Church
As we wandered through the souk, heading for lunch, we saw the Akko sea wall and lighthouse.
Akko sea wall
Akko lighthouse
After lunch we walked back toward our bus through the 1,150 foot long Templar’s Tunnel. The Knights Templar were expelled from Jerusalem by Saladin in 1187 and came to Akko and made it their headquarters. They built this tunnel from their fortress to the harbor in order to move goods to the safety of the fort.
Seahorse sculpture
Wall plaque
Novel stop sign
This colorful gentleman was shelling nuts next to the
establishment to the right
