Hello friends,

Let’s talk about one of the most visited tourist attraction points of Istanbul, The Basilica Cistern. I have passed in front of it many times but haven’t visited it due to rush or the visitor queue in front of  Basilica Cistern entrance.

Luckily, I’ve recently visited it and thought I must have done it earlier. I really recommend it you and myself to visit:)

The Basilica Cistern, (Yerebatan Sarnıcı or Yerebatan Sarayı in Turkish) is located in Sultanahmet, Eminonu, Istanbul. The Basilica cistern is a subterranean structure takes place across  to Hagia Sophia. It was built  in the 6th century during the reign of  Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. The Basilica Cistern was constructed to provide water to the Imperial Palace with other buildings on the First Hill, and later used to provide water to Topkapi Palace too. The water would have come from Belgrad Forest by the waterways. Yerebatan Sarnıcı is a great under surface water reservoir, has 336 columns, each one is 9 metres and columns form 12 row and 28 columns in each row.

There are 336 columns in the Basilica cistern

There are two Medusa heads as pedestal under two columns on the north-west corner. Medusa one of the mythological characters who is one converts ones to stones if they looked into her eyes and has snake hair. They had been brought from another place to be used here. One Medusa head is upside down and other stands on its left. There are various asserted reasons why Medusa heads are not regular, one is rush, it may be because of potential attacks to the Empire.

The Cistern was restored two times in Ottoman Empire time and later cleaned and had  maintenance operations by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The mud had been removed and a promenade platform was built for visitors then opened the doors as a museum. The Medusa heads were uncovered while removing 1 meter of mud in 1984. Moreover, fishes started to swim there as it was before. Nowadays, it has been using a venue for many attractions such as concerts, exhibitions and poem performances.

One of the Medusa heads in the cistern

The Basilica cistern  has one entering gate and one exit gate in another direction. There is water on the ground and a promenade platform over the ground. There are many lamps but still it is dark and a moist environment, that makes it nicer. When you first get down the entrance steps to the Cistern, its magnificent view and cool weather make you feel good. If you are around Sultanahmet on a hot day, visiting The Basilica Cistern would be a shot in the arm. In fact, if you are having one day trip, having your noon time in the cistern would be a reasonable choice. Furthermore, there is a nice cafe in the Cistern, you can have fast food or hot or cold drinks. This cafe deserves to be chosen even just for its environment and tune. There is a  photo corner which you can have funny photos with provided old clothes. There are  a few small shops on the exit which sell silver crafts, post-cards, guides and souvenirs.

The cafe has a peaceful climate.

The Basilica Cistern is open between 9:00am and 11:00pm and entrance fee is 6 Euros or 10TL. There are audio guides available in different languages. You can get them in the downstairs for 5 TL.

I also suggest you this page to see  partly Basilica CisternThe Basilica Cistern – 3D Virtual Tour. I did download it an liked and my computer still alive:) ( I mean, feel free to download it)

The Basilica Cistern, Yerebatan Sarnıcı is one of the must see places of Istanbul trips. It is in Sultanahmet and very close to other visiting places such as Hagia Sophia and The blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. I remember, I have seen the same people in next places who I saw in the cistern

Have you visited it? Did you like? Please share with us.