The Grand Tour
Acre
(via the port of Haifa)
Acre is one of the world's oldest ports and
continuously inhabited cities, dating back in recorded history to about 1500
B.C. When London was a town of 10,000 - Acre's population was 40,000. The city
has had many names and, as with virtually all of the strategic sites around the
Mediterranean, Acre has been conquered many times. It has been a Greek colony, a
Roman colony, an Assyrian city, an Arab city, an Egyptian city, a Crusader
stronghold, part of the Ottoman Empire, and part of the British Mandate in
Palestine. Only Napoleon seems to have failed to conquer Acre, though he
definitely tried. Today, Acre is
part of Israel.
Acre is best known as a Crusader’s city, captured
during the Third 
Crusade following which many of its walls and structures were
built. Acre served as the headquarters for the Knights Templar and the Knights
of St. John
Hospitaller. The Knights Templar and Hospitaller were organized to
provide protection and aid to Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. The Crusaders
built walls around the city, controlled the shipping in and out of the port,
turning a huge Caravansary (hotel) in the the customs house and port authority,
and 
provided assistance to pilgrims throughout the Holy Land. The Church of St.
John in Acre has a marble eschutcheon over its door clearly showing its
connection with both the order of St. Francis and the Crusaders (one
arm of Christ showing the mark
of the nail and one arm of St Francis showing the stigmata in his hand, under the
distinctive Crusader's cross). Within the last few decades the huge halls
built by the Crusaders, like their Refectory, have been unearthed and are
now being restored.
There are some interesting connections between Acre and
English history. While
the Knights Templar were identified by a black cross on their shields and
tunics, the Knights Hospitaller were identified by a red cross still used today
as an international symbol of aid. St. George, the patron Saint of Britain was a
Knights Hospitaller. St. George's red cross was incorporated into
Britain's Union
Jack. And, it was because Richard the Lion Heart ordered the Austrian flag removed
from Acre that he was captured and imprisoned by the Austrian King while returning
home from the Crusades.
Acre is also a holy place for the Baha'i faith because
the founder of the faith, Bahaullah, was imprisoned there by the Turks in
the late 19th Century. The Baha'i faith held great appeal for many well educated
19th Century Americans, like William Randolph Hearst's mother, Phoebe.
Today Acre is a peaceful and small walled-city along
side a beautiful little harbour. In one area of the
city, one can find a real agora, market, or 
bazaar where fresh fish, fresh
fruits and vegetables, and exotic spices can be
bargained for.
While Acre's little harbour served the surrounding area
for millenia, in this century the British built a new an larger harbour across
the bay from Acre. And, around that harbour sprang up the modern city and port
of Haifa, perhaps Israel's most beautiful city. And, the most beautiful place in
Haifa is arguably the Baha'i World Centre with it fabulous terraced gardens.
e-mail
the Flagler Museum
For more information, please visit the following
websites.
Crusade following which many of its walls and structures were
built. Acre served as the headquarters for the Knights Templar and the Knights
of St. John
Hospitaller. The Knights Templar and Hospitaller were organized to
provide protection and aid to Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. The Crusaders
built walls around the city, controlled the shipping in and out of the port,
turning a huge Caravansary (hotel) in the the customs house and port authority,
and 
provided assistance to pilgrims throughout the Holy Land. The Church of St.
John in Acre has a marble eschutcheon over its door clearly showing its
connection with both the order of St. Francis and the Crusaders (one
arm of Christ showing the mark
of the nail and one arm of St Francis showing the stigmata in his hand, under the
distinctive Crusader's cross). Within the last few decades the huge halls
built by the Crusaders, like their Refectory, have been unearthed and are
now being restored. 
