First Day
The Old City of Acco is particularly interesting since in its midst are ruins
from the era it served as the capital of the Crusader Kingdom. The Crusaders
came to the Holy Land in 1099 with the intent of liberating the places holy
to Christianity, from the Moslems, which ruled the land at the time. The
Crusaders ruled the Holy Land for 200 years and the impressive fortresses
which they erected are evidence of this notable era. In Acco, the Knights
Halls, which were built in a Gothic manner, by the Hospitaller Order, were
discovered. Ahmad Pasha Al-Jazzar, the Moslem ruler of the city also left his
mark on the city; the Hammam (bathhouse), the mosque, the Shuk and
many inns, which served the numerous merchants that frequented the city.
The leader's nickname, Al-Jazzar, may hint at his character. It is known
that he routinely cut/amputated the limbs of
those who disagreed with him.
The tour also includes a visit to Acco's Museum of the Underground Prisoners,
where prisoners of the Jewish Underground were imprisoned during the British
Mandate.
The tour in Acco lasts 3-4 hours. It is also possible to visit the beautiful Bahai
Gardens in Acco, where the The Shrine of Baha' U' llah (founder of the faith)
is located.
The tour may be combined with a tour of Haifa, which includes the new
Hanging Bahai' Gardens and the German Colony. Alternatively, this day
may include a visit to the Grottos of Rosh Hanikra and/or Achziv National
Park, or any number of lesser-known sites.
Entree Fees: Knights Halls: 25 NIS, Hammam, 25 NIS, Both sites 44 NIS.
Bahai Gardens in Haifa are free.
Second Day
The second of the World Heritage Tour will focus on Tel Aviv, which was
inscribed as a World Heritage Site due to the fact that it houses the largest
collection of Bauhaus buildings in the world. Bauhaus, is an architectural and design
style. "Bauhaus" was the name of a school that was founded in 1919 in
Weimar in Germany. It later moved to Dessau and Berlin. In 1933, with Hitler's
rise to power the school was shut down and all of its students and teachers
left Germany. In 1933 immigrants of the 5th Aliyah, from Germany
and Austria came to Eretz Israel, they brought with them
the Bauhaus ideology.
The Bauhaus buildings were built in the 1930's and 1940's; during this period
4,000 Bauhaus buildings were built in Tel Aviv. The tour will take you through
Dizengoff Square, the cooperative workers' apartments on Frishman Street,
which were built by Bauhaus alumni Arieh Sharon. On this tour you'll also
view buildings that look like ships and get to understand the ideology
behind this architectural style.
This tour may be combined with a tour of Jaffa, a tour of Neve Zedek, or for
those who wish to keep the focus on architecture the day may include a tour
that will focus on the eclectic architecture of the city.
Third Day
Massada was recognized as a World Heritage Site due to the
discoveries from King Herod's time. He ruled the land 2000 years ago.
Herod had many enemies, he decided to build a fortress for himself and his family on Massada,
a high and desolate place in the Judean Desert, so that in case of danger,
he would have a place to retreat to.
Herod built casemate walls around the entire fortress, built two castles,
a northern and a southern one, food warehouses, a water collection pool,
baths etc.
You'll hear about the site and drama that took place during the Great Jewish
Revolt against the Romans and the fall of Massada.
This day may be combined with a trip to the Ein Gedi Oasis, the Pratzim
River and Flour Cave, or Qumran.
Entree Fee: Massada 23 NIS or 61 NIS (by cable car).
Contact us for additional information.
We are also in the process of developing numerous other specialized tours.
If you don't see what you want, just ask us. Find out more about the
types of tours we offer.
Back to the main tours page.
