All rights reserved. © 2026
NPR & PBS for South Texas (361) 855-2213
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Access to this video is a benefit to members.

Istanbul: Capital of Emperors and Sultans

Season 13 Episode 1308 | 25m 34s

Istanbul's rich heritage spans the centuries from Christian Byzantium to Muslim Ottoman rule to today's thriving city. We start our look back at the Roman-tinged Hippodrome, then indulge in the ancient ritual of the Turkish bath. We take in the Blue Mosque and the grand Hagia Sophia, taste Turkish delight at the venerable Spice Market, and explore Topkapı Palace and its harem room deep within.

Aired: 11/18/25 | Expires: 01/18/26
Distributed nationally by American Public Television
Extras
Get a sneak peek at a brand new season of NATURE on PBS.
Dominique de Villepin; Martina Navratilova; Chris Evert; Byron Allen
Byron Allen discusses Comics Unleashed on CBS.
Rebecca Winthrop takes a critical look at how AI is impacting students' learning.
James Verini; Mark Strong; Lesley Manville; Rebecca Winthrop
June 12, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
What the U.S. and Iran are demanding in the latest peace proposal
How Gaza's students are still learning despite shattered schools and displacement
Brooks and Capehart on the tradeoffs of a possible U.S.-Iran deal
Bruce Springsteen on 'critical patriotism' and the power of protest music
Latest Episodes
All
  • All
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 13
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 12
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 11
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 10
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 9
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 8
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 7
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 6
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 5
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 4
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 3
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 2
  • Rick Steves' Europe Season 1
Hyde Park; V&A Museum; trendy East End; afternoon tea; revitalized industrial zones.
Buckingham Palace; Parliament and Churchill War Rooms; Portrait Gallery; Tower of London.
Highlights of Paris: Eiffel Tower; Seine cruise; neighborhood markets, a nighttime joyride.
Rivers and canals of France’s Burgundy region; gourmet meals; fine wine, natural beauty.
Seductive Venice; cultured Florence; charming hill towns; eternal Rome; Naples; Sicily.
Warsaw's heavy history and lively bustle; red-brick Toruń; Malbork Castle; maritime Gdańsk.
Kraków's grand square, Wawel Castle, communist-era Nowa Huta; sobering Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Bosphorus cruise; Grand Bazaar; Golden Horn; Whirling Dervishes; Taksim Square.
The ultimate road trip; Lake Mývatn; Eastfjords; lagoons and waterfalls; Westman Islands.
The vibrant capital; Blue Lagoon; Golden Circle's majestic nature; Snæfellsnes Peninsula.