Templars' Tunnel Akko

The accessible part of the tunnel runs from the old town of Akko to the harbor. It served in the past as a strategic underground connection between the fortress and the harbor.

The 350 meter long tunnel extends from the Templar fortress in the west to the port in the east of the city. It passes under the Pisan district and has served as a strategic underground link between the palace and the port in the past.
The lower part of the tunnel is carved in natural rock, the upper part is made of stone and is covered with a bow vault.
The tunnel was discovered in 1994. The Acropolis Old Town Development Corporation, together with the Antiquities Authority, has removed the earth and made it accessible to the tunnel. The western part of the tunnel was opened to the public in August 1999.
In 1999-2007, the Akko Historical Center continued to excavate and reconstruct the eastern part of the city. In 2007, the entire length of the tunnel was opened to visitors (handicapped accessible).

In 1187 Salah al-Din conquered Jerusalem and the Templars moved to Acre in 1192. They built a fortress with 8.5m thick walls and built the tunnel to the sea. The Templars stayed in Acre from 1192 to 1291