Istanbul's rich heritage spans the centuries from Christian Byzantium to Muslim Ottoman rule to today's thriving city. In this new episode of Rick Steves' Europe, 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. Check your local public television station for airdates and

This week on the Travel with Rick Steves radio show and podcast: Frosty’s family tree stretches back thousands of years, reports cartoonist and “world’s leading snowman expert” Bob Eckstein, who joins Rick to explore the somewhat dark — and certainly cold — origins of the tradition of building snowmen, and what they have come to mean across different societies. Then two Rome-based tour guides unpack some of the cultural treasures crammed into the world’s tiniest country, while sharing tips and s