Sign language

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One

BBC One East Midlands

Francesco's Mediterranean Voyage

BBC HD

BBC Four

BBC Two England

England

BBC Two Northern Ireland (Analogue)

BBC Two Northern Ireland

BBC Two Wales (Analogue)

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two Scotland

BBC One Wales

Wales

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

BBC One North West

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC One Cambridgeshire

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

BBC One London

London

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

BBC One Oxfordshire

BBC One Channel Islands

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC Four HD

Francesco da Mosto

Francesco's Mediterranean Voyage: Episode 12: Istanbul

Documentaries

Istanbul

Episode 12

Episode 12: Istanbul

BBC Two - Francesco's Mediterranean Voyage, Istanbul

Franceso da Mosto reaches Istanbul, the final stop of his marathon voyage.

Francesco da Mosto reaches Istanbul, the final stop of his marathon voyage, where he explores the Palace of Topkapi, huge underground cisterns and the Grand Bazaar.

Franceso da Mosto reaches Istanbul, the final stop of his marathon voyage from Venice following the trading routes of the Venetian empire.

Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus as well as two continents. It has been home of both Christian and Islamic civilisations, and Francesco is eager to explore this great city.

First stop is the Palace of Topkapi - centre of power for the Ottoman empire. Most haunting of all is the palace harem, a prison to the sultan's many concubines. Beneath the city is a vast network of underground tunnels dating back more than a thousand years. 

Donning hard hat and waders, Francesco enters one of the huge underground cisterns - looking more like a Roman emperor's palace than a water tank. Two giant heads of Medusa lie abandoned in the water.

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar is one of the world's biggest undercover markets and Francesco has a mission in mind. He is going to learn how to sell a Turkish carpet. As he learns the secrets of the trade, he is shown one of the most expensive and beautiful carpets in the city.

A visit to Istanbul would not be complete without the experience of a Turkish bath, however, so Francesco offers himself up for a vigorous soap and scrub. But soon it is time to say goodbye. A final celebration aboard the Black Swan with its long-suffering crew brings Francesco's journey to an end.

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Factual: History

Architect and historian Francesco da Mosto journeys across the Mediterranean sea

Architect and historian Francesco da Mosto embarks on a journey to cross the Mediterranean sea

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Francesco's Mediterranean Voyage

Episode 12: Istanbul

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC One East Midlands

About BBC One