The Fair took place from the 17th to the 19th December, 2006 and was composed of four elements: exhibition and sale of local products, workshops, tours and competitions. The city of Taibeh joined Akko in exhibiting at the Fair.

 

Most of the products were displayed in specially renovated and adapted spaces within the Old City Turkish Bazaar.

 

Artisans were there to provide explanations and demonstrations of the renewed traditional crafts, including artistic copper hammering, glass blowing, ceramic making, leather working, basket weaving, artistic embroidery and beading. Besides, workshops on belly-dance, theatre for children and young and story-telling were given three times a day.

 

“In the Footsteps of Napoleon”, “Jewish Akko” and “In the Footsteps of Daher Al Umar” were the new routes developed by the participants to the tourism courses organised in the framework of Med Cooperation programme that the visitors could enjoy together with the classical archaeological tours of the area.

 

Three competitions stimulated visitors to capture the spirit of the Fair utilising three different means: photography - for adults; short-stories - for teen-agers; and drawing - for children.

 

Participants from Akko, who took part in the different activities of Tuscany-led Med Cooperation programme, played an active role in the Fair. Among them a couple of Jewish-Arab students who spent 10 days in a camp in Tuscany made a special, uniquely personal presentation of their city.

This Fair surely represented one of the culminant moments of the programme.
Some photographic documentation can be found at the following address: www.medcooperation.org/photogallery22.html