Acre, Ancient harbor city in northern Israel.
Acre is a coastal city in northern Israel with medieval walls, fortifications, and underground passages along the Mediterranean Sea. The old town sits on a peninsula and contains mosques, churches, caravanserais, and an Ottoman hammam within the preserved city walls.
The city served as a major Crusader port until Mamluk forces seized it in 1291, ending Christian rule in the Holy Land. Ottoman rulers later rebuilt and expanded the fortifications during the 18th century.
Market streets reflect Jewish, Muslim, and Christian traditions through architecture, food, and crafts. Fishermen bring their morning catch to the harbor, where restaurants prepare it fresh for diners, while artisans sell their work in the bazaar lanes.
Trains from Tel Aviv and Haifa connect to the city several times daily, with the station near the entrance to the old town. Tours explain the tunnels and fortifications, though visitors can also walk through the lanes on their own to explore markets and sites.
Beneath the old town lie halls from Crusader times where military orders were housed, now open for visitors to walk through. The fortress also contains a prison from the British Mandate period where political prisoners were held.
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