The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul. was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
This cathedral-size cistern is an underground chamber approximately 9,800 square metres (105,000 sq ft) in area, capable of holding 80,000 cubic metres (2,800,000 cu ft) of water. The ceiling is supported by a forest of 336 marble columns, each 9 metres (30 ft) high, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns each spaced 4.9 metres (16 ft) apart.
Fifty-two stone steps descend into the entrance of the cistern. The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 4 metres (13 ft) and coated with a waterproofing mortar. The Basilica Cistern's water came from the Eğrikapı Water Distribution Center in the Belgrade Forest, which lie 19 kilometres (12 mi) north of the city. It traveled through the 971 metres (3,186 ft)-long Valens (Bozdoğan) Aqueduct, and the 115.45 metres (378.8 ft)-long Mağlova Aqueduct, which was built by the Emperor Justinian.
This cathedral-size cistern is an underground chamber approximately 9,800 square metres (105,000 sq ft) in area, capable of holding 80,000 cubic metres (2,800,000 cu ft) of water. The ceiling is supported by a forest of 336 marble columns, each 9 metres (30 ft) high, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns each spaced 4.9 metres (16 ft) apart.
Fifty-two stone steps descend into the entrance of the cistern. The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 4 metres (13 ft) and coated with a waterproofing mortar. The Basilica Cistern's water came from the Eğrikapı Water Distribution Center in the Belgrade Forest, which lie 19 kilometres (12 mi) north of the city. It traveled through the 971 metres (3,186 ft)-long Valens (Bozdoğan) Aqueduct, and the 115.45 metres (378.8 ft)-long Mağlova Aqueduct, which was built by the Emperor Justinian.
Entrance: 10 TL (Turkish Lira) / apx. 6 $ / apx. 4.5 EURO / apx. 37 EGP
Working hours: daily from 09:00 to 18:30
Coordinates: 41°0'29.00"N 28°58'40.00"E
Directions:
From Taksim: Take the Funicular (line: F1) from Taksim station to Kabataş station. (F1: Yellow label)
then Take the Tramvay (line: T1) from Kabataş station to Sultanahmet station. (T1: Grey label)
From Blue Mosque: Walk through Sultanahmet square, Basilica Cistern is just beside Sultanahmet Park (the fountain).
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