Unspecified/General

Rows of ancient columns rising from dark, still water beneath the streets of old Istanbul make the Basilica Cistern one of the most atmospheric and surprising sights in the city. The largest of the many underground cisterns built beneath the Byzantine capital of Constantinople, it was constructed in the sixth century AD under the emperor Justinian to store water for the great palace and the surrounding buildings, fed by aqueducts from the forests to the north. The vast subterranean chamber is supported by some 336 marble columns arranged in rows, many reused from older structures, their capitals carved in varied styles, and the space takes its name from a basilica that once stood above it. Among its best-known curiosities are two enormous heads of Medusa, set as bases beneath columns in a far corner, one placed sideways and the other upside down for reasons long debated, and a column carved with the symbols of tears. Soft lighting, raised walkways and the reflections in the shallow water, where fish still swim, give the cistern a haunting, almost theatrical beauty, and it has featured in films and novels. Reopened after a major restoration, it now also hosts art installations and events. Located in the historic Sultanahmet district close to Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, with tickets bought on site or online and a visit taking around half an hour, the Basilica Cistern is an easy and memorable highlight of Istanbul. The cistern once held tens of thousands of cubic metres of water, brought by aqueduct from the Belgrade Forest to the north, and supplied the Great Palace of the Byzantine emperors and later the Topkapi Palace, a hidden engineering marvel beneath the imperial city. After the Ottoman conquest it fell partly out of use and was eventually all but forgotten, rediscovered in the sixteenth century when residents were found drawing water, and even fishing, through holes in their cellar floors. The two Medusa heads, almost certainly taken from an earlier Roman building and placed without regard to their original orientation, are the source of much speculation and the most photographed feature of the cistern. A thorough recent restoration has added new lighting, walkways and a programme of contemporary art and music events that make use of the dramatic acoustics and reflections. Cool and dim even in the heat of summer, and just steps from Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace in the historic core of Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern is an easy, atmospheric and unforgettable addition to any tour of the old city.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: Yerebatan Caddesi 1/3, Istanbul, Turkey