I normally try to avoid crowded places and I was not expecting much about this one, but I was gladly surprised by the hidden beauty of the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul.

Within the district of Eminönü in Fatih, you can find the Haghia Sophia Museum, the Sultanahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque) and the Basilica Cistern, also known as the ‘Sunken Palace’.

The Basilica Cistern was built in the city underground during the times of the Emperor Justinian when Istanbul was called Constantinople. Was providing water to the Palace and houses within this area.

In times of the Byzantine Empire, there was not enough water inside the city walls and enemies were destroying aqueducts and poisoning the rivers that were carrying the water from Belgrade to Istanbul, so this was a solution to keep drinkable water in case of need.

The Basilica Cistern is the bigger within the other 60 cisterns located in the city. It is a chamber able to hold near 80.000 cubic meters of water, with the roof supported by 336 columns made of marble and arches in between.

It is a chamber able to hold near 80.000 cubic meters of water, with the roof supported by 336 columns made of marble and arches in between.

This cistern was forgotten for centuries and was accidentally rediscovered in 1545 during the research of Byzantine antiquities in the city, people was telling the researchers they not only got water from the holes in their basements, they also sometimes caught fish this way.

If you have  watched the old James Bond movie ‘From Russia With Love’ you would remember the scene when Bond is rowing in a small boat through a forest of marble columns. That scene was filmed inside the Basilica Cistern.

Was open to the tourism in 1987, and at the beginning was only possible to visit it through small boats, nowadays there’s a walking concrete path and it’s even possible to reach the mythic Medusa head columns that were always underwater in the old days.

The Medusa Head Columns

Located at the end of the cistern at the left-hand corner, the two Medusa heads are the basis of those columns. One is positioned to the side and the other upside down.

No one knows exactly why they are there, rumors says they were located inside an antique building and moved inside the cistern at the late years of the Roman period.

The story about Medusa comes from the Greek Mythology. It says that many years ago in Athens there was a beautiful woman called Medusa.

According to the myth, Medusa was so vain and telling everybody she was more beautiful than any other girl.

Athens, in the attempt to make her realize that beauty is something not lasting forever turned her into a monster with her hair as snakes.

After it, everyone who looked into her eyes will now turn into stone and no one would be able to save them.

So that’s maybe the reason why the Medusa columns are turned inside the Basilica Cistern. No one would want to be turned into stones, no?

Make a wish

There’s a weeping column close to the Medusa Columns and right next to the wishing pond where visitors throw coins in the aim to make their wishes come true (and the workers there are very happy about it).

It is slippery from the algae and water that coat it.

Locals say that if you put your thumb in the hole and rotate your hand 180 degrees while making a wish and can finish the turn, then the wish will come true.

Other Cisterns that can be visited in Istanbul

The Cistern of Philoxenos | Binbirdirek Sarnıçı

One of the biggest that can be visited today. The Binbirdirek Sarnıçı rom the Constantinople times and with 224 original columns from that time.

Located between the Forum of Constantine and the Hippodrome of Constantinople in the Sultanahmet district. There’s a restaurant that serves food during evenings especially to groups.

The Teodosio Cistern | Şerefiye Sarnıçı

Built during the Roman Empire, this cistern is located in Eminönü district at Piyer Loti Cadessi.

With a surface of 45 x 25 meters, and a 9-meter altitude roof supported by 32 marble columns. As the Basilica Cistern and Binbirdirek cistern, this cistern is open to the public.

As the Basilic and Binbirdirek cistern, this cistern is open to the public.

How to get to the Basilica Cistern

The main entrance to the Basilica Cistern of Istanbul is across the street from the Hagia Sophia Museum.

Address
Yerebatan Caddesi 13
Tram Stop
Sultanahmet
Opening hours
09:00 to 18:30
Ticket  20TL
Children under 8 are free of payment

To keep in mind when visiting the Basilica Cistern:

• Taking pictures with a tripod or monopod is not allowed or subject of a fee.
• They only accept cash as Turkish Lira
• There’s a coffee shop inside where you can buy drinks and snacks and a souvenir store at the exit.
• It can be very crowded at high season, try to get there early in the morning to avoid it.

 

 

Have you already visited the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul?