Old City of Acre

205 Pages·2000·56.69 MB·English

WHC Nomination Documentation

File Name: 1042.pdf UNESCO Region: EUROPE AND THE NORTH AMERICA
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SITE NAME: Old City of Acre

DATE OF INSCRIPTION: 16th December 2001

STATE PARTY: ISRAEL

CRITERIA: C (ii)(iii)(v)

DECISION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE:
Excerpt from the Report of the 25th Session of the World Heritage Committee
The Committee inscribed The Old City of Acre on the World Heritage List under criteria (ii), (iii), and (v):
Criterion (ii): Acre is an exceptional historic 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.
A number of delegates commented that the texts contained in the ICOMOS evaluation report needed
revision to accurately reflect the history of the site. ICOMOS agreed to discuss appropriate amendments
with the delegations concerned to reflect the history of the social and economic situation of the site and
the inhabitants of the Old City.
The Committee recommended that the State Party incorporate into its management plan a coherent
policy for the improvement of the economic and social condition of local residents of the Old City of Acre
and to ensure that it remains a living city.
The Observer of Israel stated that the inscription of the site recognizes the heritage of the people of this
multicultural centre, representing the entire region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS
Acre is a historic walled port-city with continuous settlement from the Phoenician period. The present city is characteristic
of a fortified town dating from the Ottoman 18th and 19th centuries, with typical urban components such as the citadel,
mosques, khans and baths. The remains of the Crusader town, dating from 1104 to 1291, lie almost intact, both above
and below today's street level, providing an exceptional picture of the layout and structures of the capital of the medieval
Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem.

1.b State, Province or Region: Western Galilee

1.d Exact location: 30°58' N, 35°12' E
Nomination of the
OLD CITY
of Acre

for the
WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Nomination File prepared By:
The Conservation Department of the Israeli Antiquities Authority.

Coordinators:
Eng’ Ofer Cohen and Arch’ Raanan Kislev
Writers:
Arch’ Yael Forman
Arch’ Adi Kitov

Advisors and Support:
Eng’ Yaacov Schafer – I.A.A.
Mr. David Harari – Director General, O.A.D.C.
Broyde Yosi - I.A.A.
Eliezer Shteren - I.A.A.
Arch’ Faina Milshtein - I.A.A.
Eng’ Arkadi Zazulinski - I.A.A.

Acknowledgments:
The Old Acre Development Company LTD

The National Housing company, the Acre Branch – Ms Lea Biton

The Acre Municipality, the City Engineering dep. – Eng’ Mike Sacca

Expert advise:
Arch’ Giora Solar
Contents:

1. Identification of the Property

One. Country 1
Two. State, Province or Region 1
Three. Name of Property 1
Four. Exact Location on Map 1
Five. Maps and Plan Showing Boundary of Area 2-6
Six. Area of Property Proposed for Inscription 1

2. Justification for Inscription

One. Statement of Significance 7-12
Two. Comparative Analysis 13-14
Three. Authenticity and the Integrity of the City 15-16
Four. Criteria under which Inscription is Proposed 17-20

3. Description

One. Description of Property 21-35
Two. History and Development 36-41
Three. Form and Date of recent Records of Property 42-44
Four. Present State of Preservation 45
Five. Policies and Programs related to the Presentation
and Promotion of the Property 45

4. Management

One. Ownership 46
Two. Legal Status 46-47
Three. Protective Measures and means of Implementing them 47
Four. Agency/Agencies with Management Authority 47-48
Five. Level of Management and Contact Detail 48-49
Six. Agreed Plans Related to Property 49
Seven. Sources and Levels of Finance 50-51
Eight. Sources of Expertise 51
Nine. Visitor Facilities and Statistics 52
Ten. Property Management Plan and Statement of Objectives 53
Eleven. Staffing Level 53

5. Factors Affecting the Property

One. Development Pressure 54
Two. Environmental Pressure 54
Three. Natural Disasters and Preparedness 54
Four. Visitor/Tourism Pressure 54
Five. Number of Inhabitants 54

6. Key Indicators for Measuring the State of Conservation

One. Key Indicators for Measuring the State of Conservation 55
Two. Administrative Arrangements for Monitoring Property 55
Three. Results of previous exercises 56

Bibliography

(cid:1)(cid:2)Additional Documentation For the Nomination Includes:
Archival Appendix, Monument Appendix, Photographic Appendix (Slides &
Photographs), Plan Appendix.
Translations: Summary of the Master Plan for Acre, Conservation Appendix for
the Master Plan, Circulation and Parking Appendix for the Master Plan, Design
Guidelines Appendix for the Master Plan.
Building Survey of Structure 10/50 in Old Acre.
Structural Detailing Manual-Trifor and Bifor Windows.
Collection of Literature and Video.
1. Identification of the Property

a. Country – Israel
b. State, Province or Region – The north district, Western Galilee area
c. Name of Property – The old city of Acre
d. Exact location on map – 320 55’ North 350 04’ East
e. Maps and plan showing boundary of area – see page 4,5
Six. Area of property proposed for inscription – 63.3 ha, buffer zone area 22.99
ha.
* The buffer zone area presented in the following sections is on a proposal level
that is currently under discussion in the different committees.
Map of the region, scale 1:400,000
Map of the region, scale 1:100,000