Basilica Cistern, the largest of hundreds of cisterns found underneath the modern city of Istanbul, was built around the sixth century during the Byzantine era. Throughout its history, this cistern had supplied the water needs of the Great Palace of Constantinople, and then the Topkapi Palace during the Ottoman era.
Going down the staircase, you will reach the bottom of this giant water container. Instead of feeling like being inside a water tank, I felt like being inside a dark and ancient sunken palace, or Yerebatan Sarayi, as the Turkish might call it. The big hall is laid in front of you, and raised from the water-covered ground: beautiful corridors of more than 300 marble columns, 9 metres tall each, illuminated by dim light inside the vast shadowy hall. The soft noise of trickling water adds to the feeling of serenity inside this palace.
Have you visited any ancient underground structure? How did it make you feel?
Lovely picture. The closest underground thing that comes to mind was a tour of the Seattle underground which I thought was really cool.
Hi Anil, what kind of things do you see in the Seattle underground tour? That reminds me that in Paris Ryan and I did the Paris sewage system tour, it was really interesting.
It’s pretty neat there are old walkways and even a toilet that I remember which was very old. The information the guides give you about the city is not only interesting but they deliver it so well. You can feel the passion they have for the city which makes the tour great.
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Oh, wow. That is really beautiful. And I like the orange-ish hue.
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Thanks Sabina! That cistern was a really interesting place to visit. The ground was covered by water (so we walked on a pathway) and there were some fish in it
Looks stunning! It reminds me of a church we visited in Venice…it had a underground area – much smaller – where we walked on a little path and were surrounded by water. There was a statue of the Virgin Mary across from us and it was all quite lovely. I wish I could remember the name of the church, but we just wandered in.
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That church sounds so cool, Ashley! I hope I can find that if I go to Venice
Tell me the name if you can remember.
love the photo! if i’m not mistaken (please correct me if i’m wrong), there’s this underground mosque near taman sari water castle in yogyakarta. we didn’t have a guide so i’m not entirely sure. it was pretty amazing.
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Gaye, thanks!! The one you mention in Yogyakarta, I hope I will be able to find it when I go there again. Sounds awesome!
This definitely brings me back to last September when we were both in the same place at the same time. What a small world.
Did you get a chance to have some Turkish coffee in the Basilica? It reminds me a lot of the Phantom of the Opera. Lol
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Hahaha, yes, small world! You had the Turkish coffee “inside” the Basilica? Wow, that’s cool! I didn’t do that though.. Lol for the Phantom of the Opera
The Cistern was cool. Did you see the upside-down Medusa?
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The upside down Medusa and the sideways one are cool! I’m still wondering about the story behind it.