Last updated: 8:00 PM ET, Fri August 21, 2026
WHY IT RATES: The Israeli Ministry of Tourism and Old Akko Development Company launched a video-mapping show at Old Akko's Crusader Fortress, transforming its walls through the city's historical journey, with significant investment and advanced technology.
The Ministry of Tourism and the Old Akko Development Company have launched an audiovisual experience at the Crusader Fortress in Old Akko in the city of Acre in northern Israel, close to the border with Lebanon. The powerful video-mapping show transforms the ancient stone walls into a living journey through thousands of years of the city’s history.
The project, with an investment of approximately NIS 15 million, was funded by the Ministry of Tourism and produced by the Old Akko Development Company. As part of the project, a new dedicated viewing tribune was constructed in the Fortress courtyard, and more than 10 kilometers of fiber-optic infrastructure was installed to deliver one of the world’s most advanced viewing and sound experiences.
The new show, which runs for approximately 35 minutes, is projected using 22 state-of-the-art projectors and sound technology within the inner courtyard of the Crusader Fortress. The spectacle was carefully adapted to the Fortress’s architecture, stone arches and courtyard spaces, allowing the historic structure itself to become an integral part of the story.
Presented without dialogue and using a universal visual language accompanied by an original musical score, the experience is suitable for visitors of all ages and from around the world. It is fully accessible to people with disabilities and includes special accommodations for visitors with hearing impairments, as well as audio description for blind visitors in cooperation with the Central Library for the Blind.
The visual content was created by the French company COSMOAV, one of the world’s leading specialists in video mapping, which also participated in the reopening celebrations of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The project was curated and managed by Ms. Eilat Lieber, Director General of the Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem.
The show traces Akko’s story across the ages, from the ancient world through the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, the early Muslim and Crusader eras, and on to the Ottoman period, the British Mandate and the State of Israel. Throughout the experience, the sea serves as a connecting thread between the different periods, reflecting its role as a source of life, trade, defense and culture for the city.
The project was born out of a desire to revive nightlife and tourism in Old Akko, encourage visitor activity during the evening hours, strengthen local businesses and promote new entrepreneurship and investment in the city. The spectacle complements the artistic lighting installations already operating throughout the Old City and the harbor area, with the aim of establishing Akko as a major tourism destination after dark.
Minister of Tourism Haim Katz:
"The Crusader Fortress is one of Akko’s symbols of heritage and tourism. The Ministry of Tourism invested approximately NIS 15 million in this project, which provides visitors with an innovative experience and brings tourism activity back to the city during the evening hours. We will continue to develop tourism sites and infrastructure that enhance the visitor experience, strengthen local businesses and reinforce Akko’s position as a leading tourism destination."
Yuval Porat, Director General of the Old Akko Development Company:
"The new spectacle tells the story of Akko in a powerful, emotional and visually compelling way, connecting the city’s glorious history with some of the world’s most advanced technologies. Our goal is to bring nightlife and tourism back to Old Akko, attract visitors during the evening hours and encourage entrepreneurship, culture and investment in the city. Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Akko welcomed more than one million visitors annually, and we are working to restore the city to its former stature as one of Israel’s leading tourism destinations. Akko is one of the world’s most unique cities- a living and breathing ancient city with a vibrant market, a harbor, remarkable history and daily life unfolding within an international heritage site. Through this new spectacle, the Fortress truly comes back to life and offers an experience unlike anything previously available here."
For more information: Link
SOURCE: Israel Ministry of Tourism
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
