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Arabesque in Acre

Open to the public since April 2016, Arabesque comprises two beautifully restored and renovated Ottoman buildings in the ancient city of Acre on the northern Mediterranean coast of Israel. The property is owned by the father-and-son team of Evan Fallenberg and Micha Fallenberg – Micha serves as manager of Arabesque – and is staffed by locals.

Nearly 300 years old but with some stones dating back nearly one thousand years to the Crusader period, Arabesque boasts two Great Halls – one with a baby grand piano – and chef’s kitchens for events; cozy courtyards and a trickling savil fountain; and seven rooms with unique features, like high vaulted ceilings, original stone walls, tile floors, antique furniture and artwork. All rooms have the amenities of a modern hotel room (TV, a/c, comfortable furnishings, a kitchenette).

Arabesque is situated in the very middle of the Old City and is less than five minutes’ walk to the suk (market), the Crusader Knights’ Hall, the Templar Tunnel, the Al Jazzar Mosque, the Turkish bathhouse, the port, and all the other major tourist attractions. The twisting alleyways and city ramparts are fun to wander at any hour, and we invite you to explore and lose yourself.

While Arabesque is a charming and unique place to spend a few nights and days in Acre, it is much more than just a small boutique hotel. It is our mission to have Arabesque serve the local community by making it a venue for cultural events; promote local talent, by hosting musical, literary, artistic and culinary events featuring local artists; welcome artists of all kinds from the city, the region and the world as they pursue artistic projects; and host private events of all kinds that promote dialogue through the arts.

The population of the Old City of Akko – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is mostly Muslim, but the project itself has been a labor of love shared by Muslims, Jews and Christians alike. At Arabesque we view art and culture as a unifying factor, even – or especially – in a region of contention like the Middle East.

Hummus Said

Hummus Said is one of the most famous hummus restaurant in the region, with hummus lovers traveling from far and wide to taste their secret recipe. The restaurant is named after hummus master, Said, who has been making hummus for over 35 years. There are often long lines at the restaurant, but you will understand why once you taste their hummus. Their hummus has a soft, creamy texture and tangy flavor that seamlessly melts in your mouth.

El Marsa

El Marsa Restaurant is located in the harbor of the port of Akko, in a building built by the Crusaders in 1210. Today the building combines the old and new, representing both the ancient and historic past alongside a peaceful and pleasant modern atmosphere. The large glass windows in the restaurant overlook the breathtaking view of Acre with boats, fishermen, and the beautiful walls of the Old City in sight. The restaurant offers its guests a varied menu of fish and seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes, from the daily lure of the nearby market, in the personal and creative interpretation of the young chef Alaa Musa.

Omri Avidar

Omri Avidar is a licensed tour guide, expert on trips in the Galilee. Omri, who served for many years as a manager and vice president in the high-tech field, made a professional transition and devoted himself to his great love – to travel and guide. Since then, Omri has often traveled and guided groups and tourists throughout the Galilee: in a wide variety of trips and activities, including nature trips, ethnic trips in the cities and villages of the Galilee and formation activities.

Over the years, Omri has gained an intimate acquaintance with the Galilee trails and especially with the people of the Galilee. His trips are always immersed in human encounters, tasting and a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Old Akko is the focus of Omri’s activities and here he knows every corner and is known by many. The tours with Omri in Akko expose the participants to the hidden “back alleys” of the city and meetings with inspiring people and fascinating local stories. He has several other specialized tours for photographers and those interested in experiencing Akko through food.

Eliyahu Tzur

Tzur Tours, a company with a family atmosphere, was founded by Eliyahu Tzur, based on his vast experience as a qualified tour guide. Our expertise is in organized tours for small and medium-sized groups as well as private tours. Our aim is to connect you to this wonderful country, to maximize your experience, and this with good quality service and at competitive prices.

Akko (Acre) Israel is an old city with a natural port at the northern tip of Haifa Bay. This natural port, standing at the end of the mainland route linking the wealth of the east with the Mediterranean Sea,has made Akko strategically important for thousands of years. As you wander through the old city, you are surrounded by buildings, tunnels, and walls, all from different periods in history.

Akko, especially the old city, is blessed with many attractions including the Inn of columns, the Knights Hospitaller wholes, The ancient fortifications, a colorful market and much more. Akko’s fabulous local market with the charm of an old city, don’t miss ou the excellent baklava sweets shop at the market!

Across from the mosque, you can walk down several levels and see how the Turks built many levels over the Crusaders city. The Knights’ Hall is the most beautiful of all, which was used by the Crusaders for ceremonies. Today the main hall is used for concerts.

Acre Old City Market

The Crusader city of Acre lies on the Mediterranean coast just north of Haifa. It is one of the most beautiful ancient cities in Israel with a hidden Crusader city beneath the ground and the 18th century Old City above ground. One of the most exciting things to do in Acre is walking through the Old City where the main streets are lined with market stalls and shops that open up onto the street.

The Acre Old City Market is a dirty, colorful, loud and bustling market where the local residents do their shopping among curious tourists. The prices are very reasonable, the vendors friendly and you can even try bargaining. Most of the market is covered so you won’t be in the sun and vendors display their goods hanging from every possible surface and spread out onto the street. The market operates during daylight hours and it is perfectly safe to walk around during the daytime. If you follow the market streets you will eventually reach the sea.

The market’s real purpose is to supply locals who live in the Old City with all they need. Among the goods on sale there is clothing, kitchen utensils, toys, jewelry, accessories, shoes, leather goods and more. Food on sale includes both raw and ready-to-eat food. See the fish monger; butcher; vegetable stalls; cheese and spice stalls. At the bakery see large trays of traditional baklava sweet cakes being prepared. You can find unique traditional items in the Acre Old City Market like hooker pipes. In among the market, stalls are several restaurants selling grilled meats, fish dishes, shawama and falafel.

Having entered the Old City Market and walked for a few meters you will see a doorway on your right that opens up to a gentrified, restored 18th century market street. This market is dedicated to arts, crafts and souvenirs. It is completely different to the Old City Market and is lined with elegant boutiques, eateries and pubs. If the Old City Market is a bit much for you then head in to this quieter and cleaner side street.

A Culinary Tour of Akko with Nurit Foran

Nurit Foran has been dealing with food for 25 years. For the past 6 years, Nurit has led people through the alleys and markets of the Western Galilee, bring them local dishes, introducing them to the local people and combining cultures and tastes.

During this tour, Nurit will lead you through the smells, stories and tastes of Akko’s colorful market. We will meet her for a sweet breakfast, taste a warm and sweet knafe, go into the courtyard of a local cook and more.

Acre and Rosh Hanikra Tour

Acre (some times referred to as Akko) is one of the oldest towns in Israel. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea not too far from Haifa and has been home both to the Crusaders and Ottomans over the centuries. It has seen many skirmishes over the years and many people including Napoleon Bonaparte have tried to capture it. The city was declared a World Heritage Site in 2001 and since then has become part of the Israel experience for many tourists who visit the Holy Land. Steeped in history and full of interesting adventure and cultural events, Acre is definitely a place worth visiting on your tour of the Holy Land.

Rosh Hanikra is situated on the North West Corner of Israel, right on the Border with Lebanon. In ancient times Rosh Hanikra was based along one of the major trade routes between Palestine & Egypt in the South and Lebanon & Syria in the North. People who visit there today can walk right up to the border crossing point with Lebanon before venturing down the cliff face in a cable car to explore the grotto’s below. The tunnels and railway lines on view were constructed by the British Army during World War II to facilitate movement of supplies between Egypt and Beirut. Rosh Hanikra is a place filled with history and is well worth the visit on your tour of Israel.

Citadel of Acre

The current building which constitutes the citadel of Acre is an Ottoman fortification, built on the foundation of the citadel of the Knights Hospitaller. The citadel was part of the city’s defensive formation, reinforcing the northern wall. During the 20th century the citadel was used mainly as Acre Prison and as the site for a gallows. During the Palestinian mandate period, activists of Arab nationalist and the Jewish Zionist movements were held prisoner there; some were executed there.

Image Attribution:
איציק מוזן, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons;
israeltourism from Israel, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons;
Steve Slep from Nope, The World, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons;
Heritage Conservation Accre and Surrounding Pikiwiki Israel, CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons;
Lev.Tsimbler, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Old City of Acre

Acre’s Old City is a historic walled port-city designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It has been a place of continuous settlement from the Phoenician period and today, the city contains characteristics of a fortified town dating from the Ottoman 18th and 19th centuries, with typical urban components such as the citadel, mosques, khans and baths. The remains of when the Crusaders inhabited the region, which was between the years 1104 and 1291, remain intact, both above and below today’s street level.

Since the 1990s, large-scale archaeological excavations have been undertaken and efforts are being made to preserve ancient sites. In 2009, renovations were planned for Khan al-Umdan, the “Inn of the Columns,” the largest of several Ottoman inns still standing in Acre. It was built near the port at the end of the 18th century by Jazzar Pasha. Merchants who arrived at the port would unload their wares on the first floor and sleep in lodgings on the second floor. In 1906, a clock tower was added over the main entrance marking the 25th anniversary of the reign of the Turkish sultan, Abdul Hamid II.

See the highlights of Acre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZXQTRUD29g

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