A Taste of Both Worlds: A Glimpse at Akko City Market ( הצצה לשוק העקו )

We arrived in Akko at around half-past-eleven because our train ride from Netanya took two, long hours *sigh*. We hailed a cab from the train station and rode up to the old city and our first glimpse was that of the Akko City Market.

Technically, the city market is composed of two selling sites - the white market and the street market. The White Market (Shuk Al Abiad) is a single vaulted roofed structure, it is possibly, the first shopping plaza in the world. Its name was derived from the white limestone of which it is built.

The market is unusual in character, since the street and the market were designed as a single unit. The high vaults in the center, the apertures and the light, all give the market a light and attractive nature. The passageways become narrower in an almost uniform manner as they extend in the direction of the city and the width of the hall is uniform along its entire length.

The Market Street is the main road of the Old City, during the Crusader's Period this road led from the Hospitallers Gate in the North, along the route of the market through the Via Regis, all the way to the port. Today, it houses colorful stalls selling fish, spices, sweet Oriental pastries, perfumes, clothing, accessories and many more.

Below photo shows herbs and spices like zaatar, mushrooms, flowers and leaves.

This photo shows sacks of dried red chili, big and small sticks of cinnamon and dried woods used in cooking, on the other side you will notice a fresh fish stall.

This juice stand is owned by Ali, a glass of fresh fruit juice can be yours for 5nis (61php), you can can choose among carrots, oranges and pomelos.

An array of colorful stuff lined up the alley, here you can find shawls, robes, clothes of different colors, designs and textures; lady hats, bags, and other accessories at bargain prices; wind chimes and other home decors, guitars and hookah (shisha), and the list goes on and on, just keep your eyes open, and I'm sure you'll find something that you like.

This shot was taken outside the market but still, is in the vicinity, this store, mainly, caters to Arab clientele.

After our trip to the Ethnography Center, next on our itinerary that day was the Khan El-Omdan and the Sea Wall, and, wouldn't you know, the shortest way to our destination is through the market. Below photo shows stalls after stalls of various merchandise, and, mind you, here I found my most desired kitchen utensil, which I had been hunting for a while - a petite, wooden mortar and pestle, got it for 15nis (183php).