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A Visit to The Cistern Basilica Istanbul

By

Or is it Basilica Cistern…?  I’ve seen it both ways.

I had already visited the “Blue Mosque” as well as Hagia Sophia and was eager to see more.  The Cistern Basilica is just a couple of minutes walk from Hagia Sophia and only costs 10 TL.  The entrance is modest and easy to miss but the visit itself is anything but modest.   I felt as if I had stepped back in time to a Roman era and half expected to see scantily clad women eating grapes handed to her by some peon.   Water trickles down from the majestic ceiling above in various locations adding some sort of audible historic vibe to the aura of it all.   It is beautifully lit and the koi (I think) fish are one more thing to enjoy while visiting this preserved treasure of Istanbul.  If you are in Istanbul, The Cistern Basilica is a can’t miss.  I have included a small screenshot below to give you an idea of how close this gem is to Hagia Sophia.

History-

Istanbul Basilica

Beautiful Colors

The Basilica Cistern, located in the crowded Eminönü district of Istanbul next to the Hagia Sophia, was built to provide water for the city of Istanbul during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century CE. This cistern is an underground chamber of 138 x 64.6 metres. The large space is broken up by a forest of 336 marble columns, which are aesthetically supported by strong  columns and arches. The ceiling vaults, known as Manastır Tonozu (cloister vault), are built without using a mold. The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 3.5 meters and is coated with a special mortar to make it waterproof. The location was also made with several decorative metal screens, which makes it so astonishing!

Basilica Cistern Istanbul

Visual Time Machine

Originally, there was a stone-paved circle on the cistern. It was later broken by dense housing construction beginning in the Byzantine period continuing into the Ottoman period. The citizens who settled in the vicinity were provided with their daily water requirements from the large round well-like holes opening from the ceiling structure. In 1940, several of the structures built on and around the Basilica Cistern were nationalized and a neat building was constructed at the entrance of the Cistern by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. It was also exposed to a wide range of cleaning  process between 1985-1988. Thus dirty water and tons of mud were removed and a promenade platform was built in the cistern. After the cleaning process was completed, the two Medusa heads, masterpieces of the First Age Art of Statuary were used as pedestals at the bottom of the two columns in the northwest corner of the cistern, now a days maid sailors give the cleaning maintenance it needs. It is not known exactly when or for what purpose the  antique Medusa and Gorgon heads were brought to the Basilica Cistern.

Cistern Basilica

Said to be a symbol of the many slave laborers who perished in construction

 

Medusa Istanbul

Head of Medusa

2014 Winter trip 031

Colorful fish

2014 Winter trip 022

Close up of the overhead

2014 Winter trip 018

Water still trickles down from the overhead. Watch you camera!

photo

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Tags: Cistern Basilica, Istanbul, Turkey Categories: Istanbul, pictures, Travel

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Comments

  1. SilentThunder (@SilentThunder_) says

    February 17, 2014 at 8:46 am

    A great tip what to see in Istanbul, so much history. The photos are amazing, great camera 🙂

    • SoloBagging.com says

      February 17, 2014 at 8:49 am

      Exactly, I need a camera that takes good pics for me lol

  2. Natalie says

    February 17, 2014 at 2:41 pm

    I loved this place – Was in my element and would go back in a heartbeat.
    Natalie recently posted…Gobekli Tepe: The Ancient Religious Temple that Threw the History World into ChaosMy Profile

    • SoloBagging.com says

      February 17, 2014 at 3:25 pm

      Agreed- it was my favorite “tourist” stop in Istanbul

  3. Francesca says

    February 17, 2014 at 2:47 pm

    Hands down my favorite attraction in Istanbul! I loved it!
    Francesca recently posted…Does Your Hotel Have a Carbon Monoxide Detector?My Profile

    • SoloBagging.com says

      February 17, 2014 at 3:26 pm

      I’m with ya! I actually didn’t know its existence until I was there.

  4. Raul (@ilivetotravel) says

    February 25, 2014 at 10:46 pm

    Great pix! The Istanbul cisterns are definitely unique and well worth exploring
    Raul (@ilivetotravel) recently posted…Photo of the Week: Dreamy Delights in ParisMy Profile

    • SoloBagging.com says

      February 26, 2014 at 10:25 am

      I was amazed I had not heard of this place until i was in Istanbul.

  5. Becky Padmore says

    February 26, 2014 at 4:35 am

    Oh wow, looks incredible! Definitely on my list!
    Becky Padmore recently posted…10 of the most beautiful places to visit in TunisiaMy Profile

    • SoloBagging.com says

      February 26, 2014 at 10:24 am

      It was my favorite place in Istanbul.

  6. Michael says

    February 28, 2014 at 4:29 am

    We call it the Basilica Cistern or in Turkish, the Yerebatan Sarnıçı. I like your review because it includes the history and this is an important place of old Constantinople!
    Michael recently posted…Nine Photos from the Glorious City of UrfaMy Profile

    • SoloBagging.com says

      February 28, 2014 at 11:44 am

      Ah, I sincerely apologize for the name reversal. I should have confirmed it beforehand. On the good side, it was one of the most stunning places I have yet to see… 🙂

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Meet The Author -

Karl is a ferry boat captain by trade. Traveler and hack writer while he's not piloting boats. Born in the U.S. to a German father and a Norwegian mother, Karl has been traveling internationally since he was just 2.
Trying to see as much of the world through the eyes of locals. Budget minded solo travel. An avid obstacle racer, skier and former motorcycle racer.










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