Akko old city – wonderful place with extremely rich history and amazing vibe

Old City of Acre was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. https://www.touristisrael.com/akko-acre-israel/1123/When I saw a picture of old Acre walls from sea two months ago I knew instantly this is the must visit place!

Narrow winding lanes capped with arches remembering Crusaders times, the Old Town surrounded by the impressive wall, the harbor with colorful boats, the busy local souq – Akko brought us the first wow factor for the day.

It is the place not only concerning knights but life in the city.

Nazareth 1 – Basilica of the Annunciation

The Church of Annunciation is built where it’s believed the angel Gabriel announced the news from God, that the Virgin Mary was pregnant with His son. Standing in this largest church building in the Middle East and watching over the cave that Mary had lived I was thinking two questions, was it all true and why the shrine has to be this magnificent.

Well latterly the on-site archeological museum curator Edward – a Nazareth born humble believer answered my questions by simply said “believe without seeing” and showed me the “Hail Mary” Greek graffiti. He told me that current Church constructed in 1969 over the site of an earlier Byzantine-era and then Crusader-era church. Underneath was the first shrine built sometime in the middle of the 4th century followed by a larger structure was commissioned by Emperor Constantine I who had directed his mother, Saint Helena.

After talking to Edward I somehow thought “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Human nature as opposed to the divine, and material nature as opposed to the spiritual, and for this reason we human unavoidable live in this paradox.