Lonely Planet Syria (Lonely Planet the Big Trip: Your Ultimate Guide to Gap Years & Overseas Adventures)

Discover all of Syria's myriad charms - explore magnificent Crusader castles and ancient ruins, treasure hunt in labyrinthine souqs, and people-watch in Damascene coffee houses - with this excellent new guide. - 52 detailed maps plus a full-colour country map. - The lowdown on where to eat and stay for all budgets. - Illustrated guides to shopping in the souqs and steaming in the hammams. - All you need to know about the major sights, from ancient Palmyra to the old houses of Damascus. - Useful language chapter with Arabic alphabet, numerals, and script. Discover all of Syria's myriad charms - explore magnificent Crusader castles and ancient ruins, treasure hunt in labyrinthine souqs and people-watch in Damascene coffeehouses - with this excellent new guide.

• 52 detailed maps, plus a full-colour country map
• the lowdown on where to eat and stay for all budgets
• illustrated guides to shopping in the souqs and steaming in the hammams (bathhouses)
• all you need to know about the major sights, from ancient Palmyra to the old houses of Damascus
• useful language chapter with Arabic alphabet, numerals and script

Complemented by easy-to use, reliable maps, helpful recommendations, authoritative background information, and up-to-date coverage of things to see and do, these popular travel guides cover in detail countries, regions, and cities around the world for travelers of every budget, along with extensive itineraries, maps with cross-referencing to the text, "Top 10" and "Top 5" lists, and other practical features. -- fully updated and packed with insider information from a Middle East expert and Syria connoisseur -- Arabic script throughout -- the scoop on Syria's souqs: where to shop, what to buy and how to haggle -- tips for enjoying Damascene coffeehouses, desert monasteries and monumental castles This in-depth guide gives information on Syria's fabulous souqs, mosques, and Crusader castles. Also included are extensive political and cultural notes, a convenient language chapter, a list of major archaeological sites, and detailed recommendations on where to stay and what to eat. This guide to Syria offers political, historical and cultural information as well as tips on how to get involved in an archaeological dig and details of souqs, mosques and Crusader castles. Writing a history of the modern Syrian state is difficult because it only came into being little more than 50 years ago.