Beneath the streets of Akko’s old city lies another city entirely. A Crusader city, built in the 12th and 13th centuries, buried by the Mamluks, built over by the Ottomans, and forgotten for nearly seven hundred years. When archaeologists began excavating in the 20th century, they found something extraordinary: massive Gothic halls, vaulted corridors, and underground passages preserved almost intact beneath the Ottoman city above.
The Knights’ Halls of Akko are the remains of the Hospitaller fortress, the headquarters of the Order of the Knights of St. John, and they are one of the most atmospheric archaeological sites in Israel.
The Order That Built a Fortress
The Knights Hospitaller, originally founded to care for sick pilgrims in Jerusalem, evolved into one of the most powerful military orders of the Crusader period. When Saladin recaptured Jerusalem in 1187, the Crusaders retreated to the coast, and Akko became their new capital. The Hospitallers established their headquarters in the northern part of the city and built a fortress complex that was, by medieval standards, enormous.
The complex included a great hall for official functions, a refectory where the knights ate their meals, dormitories, storerooms, a church, and an extensive network of underground passages. The knights lived, trained, prayed, and planned their campaigns within these walls, and the architecture reflects both their military purpose and their religious devotion.
Walking Through the Halls
Entering the Knights’ Halls today is like stepping into a medieval cathedral that happens to be underground. The ceilings are high, the stone columns are massive, and the Gothic arches create a sense of space and grandeur that is startling, especially when you remember that an entire Ottoman city sits directly above your head.
The Pillared Hall, the largest of the excavated spaces, was likely used for official gatherings and ceremonies. Its round columns and ribbed vaulting are classic Crusader Gothic, and the restoration has been done with remarkable sensitivity. Dramatic lighting highlights the architectural details without overwhelming the atmosphere, and the effect is genuinely moving.
The Refectory, where the knights took their meals in communal silence according to the rules of their order, is another highlight. The room is long and vaulted, and standing in it, you can almost picture rows of armored men eating their bread and soup in disciplined quiet, preparing for whatever the next day would bring.
The underground passages connect the various halls and extend to other parts of the old city. Walking through them, you get a physical sense of how the Crusader city was organized, how its inhabitants moved through their world, and how much of that world has survived beneath the surface.
The Fall of Akko
The Crusader kingdom’s final chapter was written in Akko. By 1291, it was the last major Crusader stronghold in the Holy Land. The Mamluk Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil besieged the city with an overwhelming force, and after weeks of fierce fighting, the walls were breached. The fall of Akko on May 18, 1291, marked the end of nearly two centuries of Crusader presence in the region.
The destruction was thorough. The Mamluks razed most of the city to prevent the Crusaders from ever returning. Buildings were demolished, walls were toppled, and the rubble was left where it fell. Ironically, this destruction is what preserved the Crusader city. When the Ottomans rebuilt Akko centuries later, they simply built on top of the ruins, sealing the Crusader halls beneath a layer of fill and new construction.
A Modern Discovery
The rediscovery of the Crusader city began in the early 20th century and continued in earnest after Israeli independence. Excavations revealed the scale and quality of what lay beneath the Ottoman city, and the Israeli authorities undertook a major restoration project that has made the halls accessible to visitors while preserving their character.
The restoration is one of the best in Israel. The halls have been cleaned, stabilized, and lit in a way that enhances their medieval atmosphere without turning them into a theme park. Original stonework is clearly distinguished from modern additions, and the overall experience is one of genuine encounter with the past.
Visit the Knights’ Halls with Hoshen Tours
The Knights’ Halls are one of the most powerful historical experiences in Israel, and they are best appreciated with a guide who can bring the Crusader period to life. Hoshen Tours includes the halls as part of a full Akko experience that also takes in the old city, the Templar Tunnel, and the Ottoman landmarks above ground.
Because in Akko, history is not just around you. It is beneath your feet.