🇹🇷 Basilica Cistern: Water Tank Beneath Istanbul

If you have already visited the main sights of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in the central Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, you should certainly check out the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı), an underground subterranean water cistern right beneath the heart of Istanbul.

The cistern dates from the Byzantine period, specifically the reign of Justinian the Great, the most famous Byzantine emperor who was also the one who built the Hagia Sophia. Actually, there were hundreds of cisterns built in Constantinople during this period, but this one is the most famous and the most central. It served the purpose of water storage for the city, receiving water from the aqueducts.

The cistern is very cooling on the inside, a good respite from the afternoon heat if you happen to be visiting Istanbul in the sunny summer months where the sky is clear and sun rays are sharp. Walking around the cistern, a particular ornamentation will stand out. The medusa, upside down.

For those who watch James Bond films, you may recognise the cistern as a filming location of “From Russia With Love”.#istanbul #basilicacistern #basilicacisternistanbul #turkey

Post by je ne sais quoi | Aug 25, 2025