Old City of Acre

Brief synthesis Acre, continuously settled from Phoenician times, was of major significance during the Crusader period in the Holy Land. Because of its position, located on a peninsula encompassing a natural bay, the city gained international significance from 1104 to 1291 as the capital of the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem following its development as the Crusaders main port in the Holy Land. Whilst this strategically located port enabled it to become a centre for international trade, its physical boundaries, delineated by surrounding walls and sea, created a characteristic densely built mediaeval city. Following a long period of decline, during which it was still the main entry port for Christian pilgrims visiting Jerusalem, it flourished again in the 18th century as the capital of this part of the Ottoman Empire. Its unique character is in the substantial remains of the Crusader city that are preserved virtually intact beneath the typical Ottoman city preserved till the present day, and have in recent years been revealed by scientific excavation. The present townscape of the walled port-town is characteristic of Moslem perceptions of urban design, with narrow winding streets and fine public buildings and houses. Demonstrating the interchange of mediaeval European and Middle-Eastern architecture, the city has some exceptional edifices, including a citadel, mosques, khans and baths. Criterion (ii): Acre is an exceptional historic port-town in that it preserves the substantial remains of its medieval Crusader buildings beneath the existing Moslem fortified town dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Criterion (iii): The remains of the Crusader town of Acre, both above and below the present-day street level, provide an exceptional picture of the layout and structures of the capital of the medieval Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. Criterion (v): Present-day Acre is an important example of an Ottoman walled town, with typical urban components such as the citadel, mosques, khans, and baths well preserved, partly built on top of the underlying Crusader structures. Integrity The boundaries of the property include the key elements of Crusader Acre which having been completely buried as a result of the Mamluk occupation at the end of the 13th century, is today mostly subterranean and has only recently begun to be uncovered. These well preserved remains include large portions of the fabric of urban life and buildings with all parts intact - walls, quarters, streets, alleys, fortresses, public buildings, religious buildings, dwellings, and shops, together with the subterranean infrastructure, architectural details, original plasterwork, and masonry. Building plans are clearly identifiable and building technology and materials can be accurately determined. The property also encompasses the remains of the Ottoman city that was built on the Crusader city and took the form of an urban system of alleyways, courtyards, and squares, reflecting the values of Moslem society. The geographical conditions that determined its development, together with its socio-economic structure, have maintained the integrity of Acre as essentially an Ottoman port-city of the 18th century without significant changes until the present time. The overall coherence of the city is vulnerable especially where maintenance and conservation activities are yet to be undertaken. Authenticity Two major periods in history have contributed to the appearance of contemporary Acre: the Crusader period and the late Ottoman period. The special nature of the city's evolution has allowed Acre to retain its character as a port city, with a blend of public buildings, caravanserais (khans), and religious buildings alongside markets, small shops, and large residential quarters, together with an active port which is still a source of income and access to the city. The major proportion of Acre's individual buildings have remained largely in the same form as when they were built, with few major alterations over the last 150-300 years. However, individual buildings remain vulnerable to changes away from traditional materials and methods of maintenance and repair. Protection and management requirements The Old City of Acre is a designated a site of antiquity under the 1978 Antiquity Law. Between 1993 and 2000 a heritage-focused Master Plan was drawn up by a steering committee for urban planning. This integrated the old city and port areas whilst also establishing a surrounding buffer zone. The property is managed jointly by Acre's Municipality, the Old Acre Development Company, a Government Agency, and the Israeli Antiquities Authority. Advising local residents in all matters of development, building permits and conservation measures the Israeli Antiquities Authority also operates a field office in the city. This office also supervises public and private work undertaken in the property. Much effort is being invested to ensure that the city of Acre remains a living city. In 2001, together with the local population, a residential quarter was selected as a Pilot Rehabilitation Project area. This project is ongoing and expanding, and aimed at developing measures to ensure the preservation of the physical fabric, whilst allowing adaptations required by modern life. Another goal is directed towards improving the social and economic conditions of local residents, and enhancing their sense of pride in the city's rich heritage. There is a need to strengthen the engagement of the local community in the maintenance of the built fabric of the city.