One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and home to Jews, Muslims, Christians and several other religious groups is Akko. The city is located in the northern district of Israel and the first settlement occurred around the Early Bronze Age, about 3,000 BC. It was both culturally and politically affiliated with the Phoenicians and an important city throughout Greek, Judean, Roman, Early Islamic, Ottoman eras, and also the chief port for the Crusades during the 12th century.