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.

Iran: Historic Capitals

Season 5 Episode 514 | 25m 51s

Iran's rich history goes back millennia, to the days when Persepolis was home to "the king of kings." In this episode, Rick Steves explores three historic capitals of Iran: Persepolis, with its splendid monuments; Shiraz, with the tombs of Iran's most beloved poets; and Esfahan, with its extraordinary mosques and endearing people.

Aired: 10/03/08
Distributed nationally by American Public Television
Extras
Get a sneak peek at a brand new season of NATURE on PBS.
James Jacoby; Dr. Paul Offit; Tyler Pager
NYT White House Correspondent Tyler Pager previews Trump's China summit.
Why a court overturned Alex Murdaugh's double murder conviction
The overlooked history of Asian Americans and the struggle for belonging
Trump arrives in China for high-stakes talks on trade, Taiwan and Iran war
Remembering the impact of Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player
Uganda's open-door refugee policy under strain as regional conflicts intensify
News Wrap: Senate confirms Kevin Warsh as new chair of Federal Reserve
May 13, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
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.
The Hippodrome; a Turkish bath; Blue Mosque; Hagia Sophia; Spice Market; Topkapı Palace.
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.