Visit Akko

Group Visit to the Malabi House

You are invited to hear the story of Tina, who is both a businesswoman and a single mother from Akko. The story is about female faith and empowerment. Her story will be accompanied by authentic black coffee and of course a taste of mahalabia (malabi). Tina says, “I am a person of creation and I realized that in order for the Mahalabia House to look and feel like myself I decided I would do everything with my own hands including renovating and designing. And so for a whole year right after I put the kids to sleep at night I kept working on my dream at night. Over time the Mahalabia House has undergone many changes but the main message remains as it was. The main message I want to convey here to the people of the country is a message of closeness, unity, and love. If my grandmothers were successful then we all can be. I believe that at the end of the day we all came here for a short journey and would like to live well and together. Happily, I am in a place that embodies this unity. The Malabi House represents to me a place that allows for variety and diversity, the dominant color in the place is turquoise and the message is that anything is possible under the sky.” For groups of 8 and up and by prior arrangement only.

Argaman Beach Akko

Argaman Beach in Akko is a declared beach, overlooking the Old City walls. Acre Crimson Beach The golden sandy beach is the mandatory name of the special seaside city of Acre, connecting our gaze to the picturesque wall of the Old City. The large strip of beach and shade sheds, toilets, showers, kiosk and cafe. Free Entrance

The Citadel – Music in Akko

Under the heading “You have a place to hangout”, a new entertainment complex for music and live performances called “The Citadel” was launched in Old Akko. The entertainment complex was set up in the festival gardens in Old Akko. The concept of the new entertainment venue is to have live performances by the best artists, around tables or standing and when the performance is over an all-night DJ Party awaits you. Food can be purchased at the venue and is provided by The Rutz restaurant, which is located on the entertainment complex. The maximum occupancy at the festival grounds is 500 people and the entry is on a first come, first served basis. The ticket price per show will be only 69 NIS, this is due to the city’s subsidization of performances. Link to the list of performances and purchase of tickets

Lily Sharon Park

Across Napoleon Hill, the City of Akko has set up the Lily Sharon Park, a tourist attraction for couples, families or groups for a day of fun. Lily Sharon Park is located in a large, beautiful grove north of Ben Ami Street (Highway 85). The park serves as an outdoor recreation area with picnic tables scattered among the trees. In the center of the park, at its highest point, children’s playgrounds were placed. Among the options offered in the park are: play areas, walk-able trails, parking, picnic areas, fountains, toilets, amphitheater and event space. Entrance to the park is free of charge and no prior arrangement is required, as well as bus parking on site. Due to the park’s strategic location and proximity to several points of interest in Akko, the park can serve as a great base for breakfast, lunch or a haven from the heavy heat.

Tel Akko

Tel Akko also known as Napoleon’s Hill is located at the entrance to the city and welcomes those entering Acre from the eastern side. It is known as the historic site to which Napoleon Bonaparte had reached and then failed to breach into Akko. From Tel Akko you can get a view of the Old City, the sea and the city walls. Archeological and historical findings teach that Tel Akko was where the city of Akko first stood in ancient times and up to the beginning of the Hellenistic period, the city’s center eventually shifted west to where the Old City of Acre is located  today. Some of the findings revealed at Tel Akko teach us that it had, among other things, a Purple-Dye industry producing the color from two types of snails inhabiting the Na’aman  River area. Also prevalent was metal production. Address: Acre’s eastern city entrance Open to the public at all times

Okashi Art Museum

Adjacent to the Knights’ Halls in Old Acre, an ancient building with cruciform domes dating back to the Ottoman period houses a museum featuring rotating exhibitions of Israeli art alongside a permanent exhibit of the works of late artist, Avshalom Okashi (1916-1980). Okashi was undoubtedly one of Israel’s most salient artists and he left an indelible mark on Israeli art. He spent most of his life in Acre, where he set up his painting workshop (which became the Okashi Museum posthumously) in order to pass on his artistic heritage to future generations. Okashi taught art in most of Acre’s schools. He also taught at the University of Haifa’s Art Department during its initial years. The subjects of his early works are rooted in nature and in the human and spiritual reality of Israel and they are drawn from the biblical texts he grew up on in his grandfather’s home. His works are exhibited in the section dedicated to the museum’s permanent exhibition in his name, which was established in his memory in Old Acre. Moreover, there are rotating exhibitions in the other section of the museum also featuring contemporary Israeli art.The museum maintains an ongoing dialogue with artists pursuing Okashi’s path and with his pupils and exhibits their works at every possible opportunity.

Knight’s Hall – Hospitaller Fortress

The Knights’ Halls were formerly used for lodging and eating for the Crusader settlements in Akko, which are located in the Akko fortress. The halls were discovered in the 1960s during an excavation for laying sewer pipes, and the site research began in 1992, and as of 2012, the conservation and excavation work had not yet been completed. The hall structure consists of four wings. The northern wing is located on the northern route of the Akko Wall, with nine long and narrow halls. The east wing has a large hall – the “Grand Monier”, which is covered with cross vaults. This hall served as a conference hall and a place to have ceremonies for the Knights. The southern wing is where the magnificent Gothic-style refectory resides. Underneath the dining room is a tunnel that leads to the southern part of the complex, containing the remains of a Gothic church and a Turkish hammam that is on the level of the Crusader city and most of which has not yet been exposed. The west wing has two floors for the combatants’ living quarters. Both the west wing and the south wing are built in a grand style, and were probably built in a later period. The visit to the Knights’ Hall is accompanied by an audio guide that tells the story of the fortress. The walk between the halls is done independently and in each hall an explanation can be heard. The entire site is accessible to the disabled except for the getaway cave.

The Underground Prisoners Museum, Old Akko

The Underground Prisoners Museum in Old Akko is a memorial museum in memory of the members of the Jewish Underground imprisoned in the Akko prison during the British Mandate period. The Museum of Underground Prisoners, operated by the Ministry of Defense, has created an innovative display depicting the circumstances of the underground fighters’ incarceration, their life in prison, the story of the Akko prison breakout, and the story of the gallows. The tour highlights the core values ​​during the time the underground fighters operated: Zionism and the love of the land, heroism and sacrifice. The museum is housed in the Akko fortress, which was built during the Ottoman period. During the Ottoman rule, the fortress served as a military base, the Akko governor’s residence and more.

The Botanical Gardens

The garden presents a variety of vegetation in the basin of the Mediterranean. On its 21 acres in the northern part of the city of Akko you will find vegetation from the Atlas Mountains in northern Africa, from the Iberian forests, a variety of ancient species from the Canary Islands, eastern Mediterranean vegetation and, of course, plants from the coastal and Negev regions of Israel. The park includes attractions for the whole family: playgrounds, hiking trails, observation points, seating areas and a water fountain, where wide and comfortable paths are paved.

A Tour of Old Akko – Between Houses & Local Encounters with Tour Guide Ayelet Bar-Meir

Ayelet Bar-Meir is a tour guide, loves encounters, stories, and nature that creates unique trips to man, culture, and nature in the Galilee. Among her flagship tours is the Old Akko Tour, which includes visits to homes and riveting encounters: a walk through the alleys of Old Akko: alleys, stories of homes, the church, sea, and port. The tour includes a visit within the old and new arabesque including a view from the roof and hospitality at the Effendis house with painted ceilings including tasting local cuisine. “The Galilee is an area with a unique charm – a meeting of landscapes and people from east and west, where there is both strength and serenity, mountain peaks, green groves, springs, rare flowers, and abundant animals intertwined with the human story in a unique cultural fabric. The Galilee is an area that has been populated by different religions, diverse forms of settlement, many opposing views, and neighborly relations.”

The Jam

On the promenade of Akko, between the walls and the sea, is the Jam Club – a performance club and a unique cultural center established and operated by members of Kibbutz Dror Israel’s educators in Akko, together with other young people from Akko and the surrounding area. The Jam is first and foremost a home, around which a young and creative community has formed. We offer a stage for original productions by the members of the community, for artists at the beginning and for artists everywhere, a concert club in the north where everything is open and inviting, which breaks down barriers between artist and audience, and enables anyone who wants to be a partner in cultural activity. They believe that culture should be accessible, everyday and open to all, that you can go out without cutting your pocket, and keep friendly prices as a central principle in your activity. The place is operated on a voluntary and non-profit basis, out of true love for creativity and a desire to promote a diverse culture.

Akko Art Gallery

**Updated Hours During the War: Sunday to Thursday 10:30 am – 2:30 pm, Friday 10:30 am – 4 pm, Closed Saturdays The Akko Art Gallery is located at the end of the old and colorful market of Old Akko. In the Akko Art Gallery, you will find pictures, statues, jewelry, Judaica objects, and so much more. The gallery has a variety of works by dozens of Israeli artists, some of them young and new, at the beginning of their journey, from a variety of ethnicities and religions. The gallery hosts Akko and Galilean artists and renowned Israeli creators such as Menashe Kadishman, Nachman Goodman, and private collections. The Akko Art Gallery was founded by Moshe Afuta, an avid art lover, due to his love for art, artists, and the city of Akko. Moshe Afuta grew up in Safed among the alleys and the artists, where his love for art was born. After many years in Safed galleries, he decided to open a gallery in Akko to strengthen the connection between Akko and the art world. On your next visit to the gallery, ask Moshe to tell you about the artists and art closest to his heart and to show you the works of art he makes with his wife.

The Artists’ Quarter in Akko: Recommended Half-Day Trip to Old Akko

Special Spa Treatments at Akotika Hotel

Private Treatments: A birthday? Anniversary?  Special fun day? The Akotika Hotel has a unique package for you. A delicious breakfast facing the sea, a massage,  and a room to rest  after all these pampering treats. A delicious, traditional Akko breakfast is served every morning on the rooftop of the main building. We are in Akko and  would like to treat  you to  all the unique gifts Akko has to offer. Our  bakers arrive first thing in the morning and prepare the dough for  the patissier,  grind the chickpeas and combine them with lemon, garlic and olive oil, clean and dress the  fresh produce for the enjoyment of  our guests. We invite you to sit on the terrace,  facing the endless blue sea, while enjoying  a nutritious, satisfying and lavish meal. Our spa treatments  take place in Akko’s enchanting  local  atmosphere, along with  all the other pampering offerings of  our  unique complex.

Day Trip in Akko Following Three Religions & Authentic Cuisine

Ghosts in Akko with Tour Guide Gaby Zohar

Join tour guide Gaby Zohar for a unique and unusual tour of the alleys of the Old City of Akko and outside the walls through figures who worked throughout the various periods in Akko. A trip with the story of Akko through the ghosts, real characters from the city’s fascinating past. During the tour we will meet the Ramban, Ahmad Pasha al-Jazer, the Crusader king Henry II, Chaim Farhi the Jewish adviser who prevented the conquest of the city by Napoleon, a French officer who participated in the failed siege, Dov Cohen, commander of the Akko prison break-in and other figures. The characters are played by a professional actor during the tour.

Romantic Experience of Fine Dining & Wine

Al-Basha Turkish Bath

The construction of the hammam (bathhouse) was part of the transformation of Akko during the Ottoman period, mainly by Algiers Pasha, from a small fishing village to a port city where there is a busy and buoyant movement of commerce and construction. During his reign, Algiers worked to promote the city in many different areas. Among his plans was the construction of the aqueduct that led the spring water to the city, the construction of the breakwater for safe docking in the harbor and the erection of important buildings such as Khan El Omdan, the great mosque of Akko, his magnificent palace, and of course the hammam. In the Hammam there are three main parts: the summer dressing room, the four mezzanine rooms, which are between the cold and warm rooms, and the warm room – the last room is the essence of the Hammam. For about fifty years, from its inception until the War of Independence in 1948, the Hamam functioned as an active bathhouse. In addition to the religious role, fulfilling the purity precepts before prayer, the Hammam played a significant part in almost every aspect of life in the Ottoman city. It served as a place for social gatherings, for recreation and celebrations, was the home of doctors and barbers and served as a “pampering house” for the city’s wealthy.  

Art 192 Gallery

10 Galilean women create art from different materials. You can meet a different artist every day on-site and purchase the art. Orit Kama Born in 1959, lives in Timrat. Orit has been creating in clay for the last 18 years, 15 of them at the Givat Haviva Art Centre. She designs decorative items and vessels in clean lines with a connection to nature that reflects her interaction with her surroundings. She achieves interesting surface effects by alternative firing methods such as Raku, Saggar, Smoke, and Reduction firings. Her works are characterized by an “emergence of contrasts” that present a whole in her pieces. Ilana Pour Born in 1948, lives in Moshav Mizpe.  Ilana has been a ceramic artist for over 40 years. A graduate of Bezalel Art Academy she studied for a further 15 years at the artist’s workshop in Tel Hai and then at Givat Haviva Art Centre.  She makes mostly functional ware, decorated with decals of her own design. Her decorative forms are fired in Saggar, Raku, Smoke, and Reduction firings. Edna Piorko Born in 1968, Edna lives and creates in Kfar Tavor. After 18 years in the security forces, she went on to study ceramic sculpture for 4 years at the Givat Haviva Art Centre under the instruction of Ethel Pisaroff. Edna describes herself as an artist who tells stories through clay. She creates figures and houses that reflect personal, biographical stories. Her inspiration comes from her inner world, relationships, architecture, and the texture of old buildings. Her sculptures are characterized by their bright colors and humor. Ella Torlev Born in 1982. Grew up in Haifa with a grandmother who painted colorful paintings and hung them all over her home. She has always been a creator. moved between many creative mediums – photography, painting, installation, and the day she sat down on the stones, magic happened. Instantly falling in love with the material, creating useful tools. Ella is a graduate of the Tel Hai Institute of Arts in the pottery department and plastic arts departments. Today she lives and creates in Kibbutz Tuval in the Galilee. Teaches pottery classes and teaches children and youth at the center for Nationalism in Ma’alot Tarshiha. She mainly creates useful ceramic tools whose uniqueness lies in the play of colors and slightly different coloring. “I want my tools to be happy and bring color and uniqueness into the homes they end up in.” Esti Kehati Esti is a potter living in Yuvalim, Misgav. After many years in the security forces, she turned to work with clay. Inspired by her surroundings in the Galilee and influenced by her family’s olive oil business, she created a series of “clay bottles” and complimentary items for display, hosting, and as table centerpieces. Each bottle is an original one-off piece with its own individual character. Hedva Klein Hedva worked in education for 34 years and since her retirement has devoted her time to art, focusing on jewelry made of paper, sabras, and weaving. She draws inspiration from nature and her family. She says that, for her, paper jewelry represents most accurately her motto “Do what you love with all your heart” and “ wear the books you love”. Her jewelry is made from recycled paper and books and colored paper cut into different shapes and sizes by laser and templates that are then threaded onto leather laces in combination with wooden beads. Lucy Browne-Bashan Born and raised in northern England, Lucy arrived in Israel in 1995. She lives and creates in Kibbutz Merom Golan. She graduated after 3 years of study at the Khan House in Kiryat Shemona and has since participated in many workshops. Lucy has been teaching ceramics to children and adults in their “golden years” for the last 14 years. Her own work is a combination of hand-building, sculpture, and wheelwork. She uses a selection of clays and her work is characterized as colorful and cheerful. Lucy says of herself, “ I express myself most accurately through clay”. Niva Goren-Herzog Born in the United States, Niva today lives and creates in Almogor, near the Sea of Galilee. She focuses on functional, wheel-thrown pottery with some hand-building. Her green and blue ware reflect her surroundings. Niva strives to produce pots in a simplistic aesthetic form, that is pleasing in everyday use whilst providing many years of enjoyment. Kyla Talmi Born in England, Kyla now lives and works in Yuvalim, Misgav. The Inspiration for her work comes from scenes of the Galilee and memories of her childhood in southern England. Her pots are functional, for everyday use. With minimalistic lines and quiet tones, her tableware provides the ideal backdrop for serving food and will complement any meal. Her hope is that her pots will become an integral and useful part of people’s lives.

Art 192 Gallery

**Current Hours of Operation During the War: Thursdays & Saturdays 10 am – 4 pm, Fridays 10 am – 2 pm** The Art 192 Gallery began with two women who dreamed of being creators and wanted to establish their place, in the geographical area where they live and in the rustic atmosphere where they create. They roamed the northern cities in search of a place with history and soul, and at the same time began to contact friends and colleagues in the area. A third joined immediately, then a fourth brought a fifth, and so on until a colorful and vibrant group of 10 creative women was formed, each different from her peers and each with her unique fingerprint. The choice fell on Old Akko both because of the connection to the local history and the ancient production of material and glass in this environment in ancient times and because of the human warmth that characterizes the local community. Together, they settled in a magnificent Ottoman building, which they cleaned and renovated, built furniture, and made the space their own until the moment came when full and rich-looking display stands were set up in it. Each member of the group has a role, decisions are made jointly (if necessary by voting) and every day another artist staffs the gallery and receives its visitors. Sometimes you can see the creative process in person, in quiet moments within the gallery. The experience upon entering the complex is multi-sensory and similar to entering a treasure cave. In the center of the gallery is a guest artist exhibition that changes monthly. The gallery is renewed with changing products and not one visit is similar to the previous one. There are creative workshops in various fields, for groups and individuals. By appointment only. Recommendation: Take your time, go from artist to artist, and look at the different products, the materials they are made of, and the delicate textures. The multitude of styles combines into a spectacular overall picture in which everyone can find what they like. The Artists: Ceramics – Ilana Pour, Esti Kehati, Kyla Talmi, Niva Goren-Herzog, Lucy Browne-Bashan, Orit Kama, Edna Piorko, Ella Torlev Paper – Hedva Klein Glass – Dorit Shalom