You must visit the mystical Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, Turkey

Google for the best places to visit in Istanbul and the Hagia Sophia museum, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and the Spice Bazaar will pop up. But Basilica Cistern is one of the hidden gems in Istanbul.  Did you know that the climax scene of the Hollywood movie ‘INFERNO’ was shot at this location? A cistern is a storage tank for liquids, usually water. Turkey has hundreds of ancient cistern beneath the earth surface and Basilica Cistern is one among them. Dating back to the 6th century, this Cistern is a classic example of the East Roman Empire’s marvelous engineering. I wonder how this system design during the beginning of the Middle Ages was possible !!

Basilica Cistern Highlights

1. Water storage capacity: 100,000 tons 2. Total area: 9800 m2, 70 m wide, and 140 m long. 3. Supported by 336 marble columns (arranged as 12 rows and 28 columns) 4. Four-meter thick firebrick surrounds the Cistern with waterproof mortar coatings. 

Water transportation

The water for the Cistern comes from the Belgrade forest located 19 km away from the city. The Cistern mainly supplied water to the Great Palace of Constantinople.

Inside Basilica Cistern

Upon entry, I could only see tall marble columns everywhere. The place was a little dark and took a moment for me to understand what these columns meant. It was a mystical feel. We could hear the echoes of dripping water. 

Columns

The Columns are made of various types of marbles and different styles (Corinthian, Dorian). Each column is 9m high and the distance between the two columns is 4.9 m. Try reading the description near these columns if you are keener to know the construction history. 

The Crying column

One column is always wet. Hence the name ‘Crying Column’. It is dedicated to the slaves who lost their lives during the Cistern construction. 

The Medusa Heads

Once you walk past hundreds of marble columns, at the very end, you can find the Medusa Heads. In Greek mythology, Medusa represents one of the three female Monsters.

The actual reason why these Heads are here is still unknown. That gives ways to countless myths like paintings and sculptures of Medusa Heads that helps to protect the Cistern.

Other information

Turkish Lira (TL) is the official currency and 1€ ~ 7.5 TL or 1$ ~ 7 TL Opening hours: Mon – Fri 9.00 – 17.30 Entrance fee: 5 TL for students, 10 TL for adults, and 30 TL for foreigners. Note: International student ID card is not applicable, unlike Greece. 

How to reach Basilica Cistern

Board Tram line T1 and get down in Sultanahmet tram stop. Istanbul’s iconic attractions like the Hagia Sophia museum, the Blue mosque, and the Sultanahmet square is walkable from this tram stop. 

My experience

Basilica Cistern is definitely worth a visit if you are in Istanbul. One can easily spend 30 minutes inside the Cistern. A great place to take a quick break from the afternoon sun.  This underground storage system represents Turkey’s rich cultural heritage.  Overall experience:  out of 5

“Speak any language, Turkish, Greek, Persian, Arabic, but always speak with love” – Rumi

Time of visit: November 2019