This is also known as the Yerebatan Sarayı, or Underground Cistern, Istanbul. It was originally constructed by that great builder, the Emperor Justinian in the sixth century, on a site to be near the old palace. It was also known as the Basilica Cistern. It is one of the biggest of the Byzantine cisterns, being 140 metres by 70 metres (154 by 77 yards). It has no less than 336 columns, each 8 metres (about 26,5 it) high.
As in the equally famous Thousand and One Columns, no part of the pillars have remained in the ground. It is the only one of the old Byzantine cisterns which still contains water, which is brought from the reservoirs in the Forest of Belgrad. Electric light has been installed and it is possible to go for a row in it in a boat. It is one of the most impressive of all Byzantine remains, a fitting offset to the wonderful building of Justanian nearby, Aya Sofya, that is, Hagia Sofia.
Continuing from the Underground Cistern, Istanbul in the direction of the trams, we come to Hagia Sofya Place with the Aya Sofya Museum. To the south of the Museum is the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet. Here too we see the Obelisk and the Hippodrome Place, the Atmeydani, to-day the Place of Sultan Ahmet. And then, on the north side, there is the old Church of St. Irene, the Palace of Topkapi, the Topkapi Museum, the Museum of the Ancient East, the Archaeological Museum and the Tile Kiosk.
This is a remarkable underground cavern, right in the middle of the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. Gigantic columns, with two having the heads of Medusa carved into them support the roof of this enormous room. People walk over it all day long in the heart of the city with no idea. Highly recommended..
In Turkey it's generally called "Sunken Palace". It's actually a water cistern. It was one of the main water supply of the city in the Byzantine era. After the city became the capital of the Ottoman Empire, basilica was used to water the gardens of the Topkapı Palace. (In old Turkish tradition, still waters are not drinkable).
The lighting is eerie but at the same time is mystical. Acoustics were great. Would be a great place to hold an intimate concert.
We almost did, but ended up going on the morning of our last day. When you realize how old this building is, it is astounding to see its current form. Very well maintained; speaks volumes about the people who constructed it.
I really enjoyed visiting the Basilica Cistern. It has a very interesting history and walking along the underground chamber which was lit up with lights was great! Seeing the upside-down head of Medusa was also a lot of of fun!
Loved that classical music was playing as you walk through this watery underground labyrinth. The upside down medusa heads at the column bases tell their own story. Love this site.
I enjoyed the fact that this was built out of recycled columns, check out Meduses head. This attraction is not well signed and easy to walk past as it is below ground level.
Very nice underground museum showing the former cistern of the city. It's very well preserved and unexpected to see in the city center.
This hidden sight of Istandbul is an ancient (and btw with 9.800m² the largest) cistern (amongst several hundered others), located 150m SW of Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century, at the place of the Great Basilica (that's why the name). It provided water filtration (with a capacity of up to 100.000l, today only less 1m water depth).
The Basilica Cistern is easy to miss – being underground, the entrance is from a low-key looking door on the street – the engineering that went into this such a long time ago is so hard to get your head around – a simply amazing achievement. Beautiful, peaceful atmosphere. Highly worth a look.