Online Program

Adventures Online: Discover Istanbul Through the Ages

Program No. 24201RJ
From Topkapi Palace to stories of Constantine the Great, immerse yourself in the history of Istanbul during this live, online adventure filled with online field trips and discussions.

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5 days
1
Byzantium & Constantinople
From the comfort of your own home.
2
Hagia Sophia
From the comfort of your own home.
3
The Ottoman Empire
From the comfort of your own home.
4
Imperial Mosques
From the comfort of your own home.
5
Contemporary Istanbul, Contrasts, Old Ways to New
From the comfort of your own home.
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At a Glance

Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul — this city that straddles both Europe and Asia has a vast, complicated history that just waits to be explored. Discover Istanbul through the ages during this online learning adventure led by local experts live from Turkey. Through online field trips, discover the holy places and landmarks that make Istanbul one of the most fascinating cities in the world, with landmarks like the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and more. Engage with your fellow Road Scholars and instructors during lively discussions, and enjoy further insight into the great leaders and historic events that have shaped the evolution of Istanbul during presentations by our experts, all from the comfort of your home.

What You'll Learn

  • Marvel in the historic beauty of the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace during expert-led online field trips.
  • Gain insight into the lives of great leaders of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires including Constantine the Great, Justinian, Mehmet the Conqueror and Suleiman the Magnificent.
  • Explore the wonders of Istanbul during online field trips to the ancient Hippodrome, the Chora Church, the Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar.

General Notes

You’ll enjoy 2-3 hours of daily instruction, discussion and/or field trips, which includes sufficient breaks throughout the program. This online program is through Zoom, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. We’ll provide a how-to guide to make sure you’ll have a hassle-free experience. In keeping with our Traditional On-Site programs, ALL ADVENTURES ONLINE MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS (INCLUDING THIS PROGRAM) ARE PRESENTED LIVE; THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT RECORDED. Please review the daily itinerary for start and end times to ensure you won’t miss a minute of this live experience. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Volkan Yazici
Volkan Yazici was born in the southwest Aegean region of Turkey and has lived in Istanbul since he was two years old. He has been a professional group leader since 2005, leading throughout Turkey for Americans and other English-speaking groups. Specializing in art history and architecture, Volkan finds it rewarding to introduce Turkey “as it is” to Road Scholars through both on-site and online programs.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Volkan Yazici
Volkan Yazici View biography
Volkan Yazici was born in the southwest Aegean region of Turkey and has lived in Istanbul since he was two years old. He has been a professional group leader since 2005, leading throughout Turkey for Americans and other English-speaking groups. Specializing in art history and architecture, Volkan finds it rewarding to introduce Turkey “as it is” to Road Scholars through both on-site and online programs.
Profile Image of Kazim Uzunoglu
Kazim Uzunoglu View biography
Kazim started his tourism career as a licensed national guide in Turkey in 1987. He studied Economics at the University of Virginia but decided to stick to the travel business. After many years of leading educational tour programs around Turkey, he switched to the organizational side of the operation in 2004 and started running Baltac Tourism and Travel, the program provider for Road Scholar in Turkey. He is committed to offering the best educational programs to the discerning Road Scholar participants. His hobbies are riding motorcycles around the world, vintage cars and motorcycles, photography, and rock'n roll music.
Profile Image of Sami Ozcini
Sami Ozcini View biography
Sami Ozcini has shared his love for Turkey — and his home city of Istanbul — with Road Scholar participants for more than 12 years. His on-site lectures bring a different perspective to understanding and appreciating the rich history and legacy of Istanbul. A graduate of Marmara University, Sami has a degree in English literature and enjoys traveling throughout Europe, Australia and the U.S. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, cooking and acting as a referee for amateur football games in Istanbul.
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