Akko and Israel's North Coast

The Mediterranean littoral between Tel Aviv and Lebanon has always played an important role in the history of Israel. It is the location of some of the country’s great historical treasures and places of natural beauty. The atmospheric walled town of Old Akko (Acre) is one the oldest ports in the world and is full of oriental charm. Once the de facto capital of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, above-ground Akko resembles a typical Ottoman city. Below street level, the remains of the Crusader town with its barrel-vaulted halls, paved streets, storage rooms, and dungeon lie almost intact!

To the north, Rosh-HaNikra‘s chalk cliffs have been eroded by the sea into a series of spectacular caverns and tunnels, while a little way inland on an inaccessible ridge, are the ruins of the Crusader castle of Montfort (Starkenberg to the Teutonic Knights). Another Crusader castle, Judin (Yehiam), is now a winery. Wedged between the slopes of Mount Carmel and beautiful Haifa Bay is Israel’s third largest city. Haifa’s principal attraction is the attractive terraces of the Baha’i Gardens that lead up to the golden-domed Shrine of the Bab.

Above the city, picturesque Mount Carmel will forever be associated with the Prophet Elijah and his momentous encounter with the Baalists at Muhraqa. The mountain, parts of which are known as ‘Little Switzerland’, is also home to several Druze communities and the artists’ village of Ein Hod. Further down the coast are the lovely ruins of Caesarea Maritima – a great port city established by Herod the Great – and one of Israel’s most important Roman and Crusader sites.