Acre (or Akko, as it is known in modern Israel) has been a place of significance for 2,500 years. Today, it comprises a new Jewish town and an old walled city, whose inhabitants are almost exclusively Arab. After the loss of Jerusalem, Acre was the chief Crusader stronghold in the Holy Land. It was the last bastion to fall when Arab armies finally sacked it in 1291. The Old City is a delightful place through which to stroll. In the magnificent Khan al-Umdan caravansary, recent restoration work has revealed the remains of the 13th-century Crusader city lying 25 feet below today’s street level. Grand Gothic knights’ halls have been unearthed and are so atmospheric that you sometimes fancy you can hear the clank of armor. From Acre, you can get anywhere in northern Israel in little more than an hour.