Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan)

Basilica Cistern is an amazing monument of ancient Byzantine architecture in the historical center of Istanbul. This huge underground structure stored water for the imperial Grand Palace.

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Video: Basilica Cistern

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General Information

‘ Istanbul is on its way to the Mediterranean Turkish resorts. Meanwhile, the Basilica Cisterna is literally under the feet of tourists exploring the Aya Sofia, the Blue Mosque and other famous structures in the historic center of the city.

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Fortunately, the existence of the secret underground reservoir was not known to the Ottomans, who captured and mercilessly destroyed the city to Constantine in 1453. It is highly probable that the surviving defenders of Byzantium spent their last days here. Subsequently, the Cistern was discovered and it supplied water to the palaces and gardens of Turkish sultans, but then it was abandoned and turned into a giant underground garbage dump. It was only in 1985 that the dungeon was cleaned up and turned into a tourist attraction. Today, this monument of Byzantine architecture is under state protection. Cisterna Basilica is listed as an outstanding building of the cultural heritage of the Greco-Roman civilization established in Constantinople.

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‘ View of the Cisterna in natural light
‘ Descent into the Cisterna Basilica

History of the underground tank

In the 1920s of the 4th century, a grand construction began on a hill in the center of Constantinople. A huge excavation appeared in the market square. Basileus Constantine the Great ordered to create in the capital of the empire colossal underground reservoir, designed to supply the palace buildings and hundreds of thousands of residents of the city. Chronicles pass that 7 thousand builders worked here. A multi-kilometer aqueduct was built to the strategic object, supplying water from the surrounding mountain springs. A part of this arched aqueduct, made of strong Roman bricks, still crosses the streets in the center of modern Istanbul. After 200 years, during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, the Basilica Cisterna was fortified, enlarged and slightly rebuilt.

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‘ Istanbul for several decades nothing was known about this huge dungeon, although the locals even fished there, and often threw garbage into the sinkholes. However, they believed that under the streets of the city lies an underground lake. Only two generations later, in the mid-16th century, the Cistern was discovered by traveler Pierre Gilles, who was guided by the ancient description of Procopius of Caesarea.

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It is known that during the reign of the Ottoman sultans, the underground reservoir was repaired several times. A large-scale repair was carried out in 1723, at the behest of Sultan Ahmed III. Another reconstruction was carried out under Sultan Abdulhamid II, at the end of the 19th century.

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In the mid-1980s, Istanbul city authorities decided to clean the Basilica Cistern. Fifty thousand tons of dirt and garbage, which had been accumulated for centuries, were extracted from the underground. Here were found artifacts that have replenished Istanbul museums, as well as several skeletons of people who were victims of terrible crimes, which remained unpunished.

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In May 1987, the ancient dungeon was opened to all comers. Here were built berths for boats, which took tourists on rides.

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The Cistern’s appearance

Nothing has changed in the dungeon in the past thousand and fifteen hundred years. Mighty brick walls of the reservoir, 4 meters thick, are impregnated with a layer of water-resistant resin-based mixture. By the way, the Byzantine waterproofing is reliable to this day, and the secret of water-resistant solution has not been revealed. Researchers believe that the builders hammered millions of chicken eggs into the lime mixture. The walls form a rectangular basin measuring 140 by 65 meters, outlining an area of 9800 m². Up to 100 million liters of water were placed here.

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‘ Columns with Medusa’s head at the base
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Several columns are engraved with stylized eyes and tears. Ancient chronicles claim that these signs are carved in memory of the many slaves who died during the grandiose construction.

Now the Basilica Cistern has been turned into a museum. The columns are beautifully illuminated, there is quiet instrumental music, you can hear the measured drip and gurgle of flowing water. In the glare of light between the columns swim fish, and on the marble bottom shimmering coins, which traditionally throw into the water tourists. Sometimes concerts and cultural events are held in this huge room with good acoustics.

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Cisterna Basilica in cinematography

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There are other man-made underground reservoirs from the ancient period available to tourists in Istanbul. One of them, the two-story Cistern of Philoxenus (4th century), is located west of the Hippodrome, near the Forum of Constantine, with the entrance located at 4 İmran Öktem Sokak. Its vaults are supported by 224 marble columns and have interesting images on them.

In 2018, after cleaning and restoration, the Theodosius Cistern, built in the first half of the 5th century, was opened for viewing in the historic Fatih district. This small reservoir served to supply water only to the imperial palace and irrigate the gardens surrounding the royal residence.

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According to archaeologists, there are many more such structures in Istanbul, but access to them is blocked by urban development and underground utilities.

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Opening hours and tickets

Visiting the Basilica Cistern is available daily from 09:00 to 17:30. On Muslim religious holidays, the museum opens at 13:00.

The entrance fee is 10 liras.

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How to get there

Basilica Cistern is located in the central district of Istanbul, within the vast historic Sultanahmet Square. The entrance is located opposite the Ayya Sofia Cathedral at Yerebatan Caddesi, 1/3.

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‘ Istanbul – part of the metro train route emerges from subway tunnels to the surface.

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It is inconvenient to get to Cisterna by bus from the airport – express trains bring passengers to Taksim Square, there you have to walk to the same subway, and continue subway.

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From other parts of the city, Sultanahmet Square can be reached by streetcars running on the T1 line.

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Wealthy tourists use cab services. The distance from the airport to the center of Istanbul is 24 km. The trip will cost the equivalent of about 20 €. But experienced travelers warn: Turkish cab drivers often cheat, and can demand an inflated amount. Order a transfer in advance on the KiwiTaxi website, the driver will meet you at the airport and take you to the agreed fare.

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Low airfare calendar

Nearby attractions

Cisterna Basilica is surrounded by many remarkable structures from the Byzantine era and the Ottoman period. Many of them are listed as a UNESCO cultural heritage site. Nearby rises the famous Cathedral of St. Sophia (6th century), which became a model for the erection of all subsequent Christian churches. While exploring the interiors of Hagia Sophia, pay attention to the variety of columns supporting the arched vaults of the temple. These design elements were brought here from destroyed ancient structures. In the same way Byzantine architects used ancient columns in the construction of the Cistern.

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Opposite are the six minarets of another landmark structure that has entered the annals of world architecture. This is the Blue Mosque, erected in the early 17th century.

You can not ignore the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Here are collected about a million artifacts from all historical eras. Just to see the exposition of the Museum of the Ancient East, which is part of this complex, you can spend a couple of days.

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‘ Blue Mosque in Istanbul
‘ Interior of Aya Sofia Cathedral

Best Restaurants Nearby

A stone’s throw from the entrance to the Cisterna Basilica, there are several restaurants and cafes.

‘ Sura Design Hotel & Suites 5*. A minibar filled with drinks awaits guests in the room. The cost of accommodation varies from 435 to 1209 liras per night. Breakfast in the restaurant is paid separately.

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A few blocks to the northwest is the hotel “Sura Hagia Sophia” 5*, each room has an individual interior. The cost of accommodation ranges from 350 to 1285 liras.

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Inexpensive to stay at the “Sultanahmet Hotel” 3*. For a double room you will have to pay from 225 to 510 liras.

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