Old City Recognized As UNESCO World Heritage
Site
Akko is an ancient
city that has been inhabited since the time of the Phoenicians. What
makes this city unique is that the builds and structure from two time
periods can be seen. Remains from both the Crusades and the Ottoman empire are
present and a delight for tourists.
For the sort period that the Crusader-Christians ruled Israel, Akko was part of the kingdom of Jerusalem.
The buildings left from this time period are found above and below street
level. From these buildings it is easy to picture the layout and structure
of the town. It also has given historians insight as to what Jerusalem
and other cities might have looked like during the Crusade period.
The present day town of Akko closely resembles the
way the town looked during the 18th and 19th centuries of the Ottoman
empire. It is very close to the way other Ottoman towns looked. Typical
Ottoman towns had a wall around them, which is still present in Akko
today. Akko also still retains many of its old mosques, khans and baths.
Because of its outstanding universal value, the city
was added by UNESCO to its World Heritage List.
Sources: World Heritage |