Acre – Ancient & Strategic (2010)

No, not a measure of land, but the name of a port town immeasurably vital to a succession of empires once upon a time. Acre, relatively obscure today, was a coveted city in its heyday, thanks to its location on the edge of the Mediterranean. An irresistible beacon and a valuable acquisition to  every sea-faring civilization, it was seized by emperors and kings, admirals and generals for several millennia. Phoenicians spotted it first, then came the Greeks under Heracles followed by Ptolemy. Of course, Alexander, the Great added it to his collection of conquests. The Persians used it as a springboard to attack Egypt.  The Arab conquest of Acre resulted in it being the port city of Palestine under the Umayyid and Abbasid Caliphates. The Mamaluks and Ottomans followed. In recent history, it became the camping ground of the crusaders whose legacy still lives in its tunnels and caves. During our ten-day long trip to Israel, my son, a history buff, insisted we visit Acre, which is now known as Akko. (This is a photos-only feature)