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The Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) is one of Istanbul’s treasures. Located just southwest of Hagia Sophia in the Sultanahmet district, it lies within the UNESCO World Heritage–listed old city, offering a fascinating glimpse into the city’s Byzantine past.
History of the Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern was built in the mid-6th century under Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. Its name comes from a 3rd- or 4th-century basilica that once occupied the site. Originally, the cistern supplied water to the Great Palace of Constantinople and continued to provide water to Topkapi Palace for a short period after the city’s conquest in 1453. Historical accounts suggest that more than 7,000 laborers, likely including slaves, contributed to its construction.
For many years, the Basilica Cistern fell into disuse, as the Ottomans favored running water over still reservoirs. Locals who lived above reportedly lowered buckets through openings in their floors to collect water, and some even caught fish. On occasion, adventurous visitors navigated the cistern by boat, using lanterns to light their way.
The Basilica Cistern was “rediscovered” in the 16th century by French naturalist Petrus Gyllius (1490–1555). Restorations took place during the reigns of Sultans Ahmed III and Abdülhamid II. Between 1985 and 1987, the city undertook a thorough cleaning and restoration, converting the cistern into a museum. The Basilica Cistern underwent another extensive restoration and reopened to the public on July 22, 2022.
Visiting the Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is open to visitors daily from 9am to 10pm. Admission for foreign visitors is 1,300₺ from 9am to 6:30pm and 2,000₺ from 7:30pm to 10pm, with free entry for kids under 7 (as of May 2025). Evening visitors may have the chance to enjoy surprise concerts within the cistern. Please note that neither the Museum Pass Istanbul or Museum Pass Türkiye is accepted.
During summer and holiday periods, I highly recommend purchasing tickets online in advance through the official website. Queue can extend to the street corner, potentially resulting in up to an hour’s wait. Once inside the entrance, you’ll descend 52 stone steps into the cistern. The exit is across the street.
Features of the Basilica Cistern
The underground chamber is vast, measuring roughly 138 by 65 meters (453 by 213 feet), covering an area of 9,800 square meters (105,000 square feet). It can hold up to 80,000 cubic meters (2,800,000 cubic feet) of water.
A total of 338 columns support the ceiling, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns each, spaced approximately 5 meters (16 feet) apart. Each column rises 9 meters (30 feet) high.
Many of the columns were likely recycled from earlier structures across the Byzantine Empire. Most feature Ionic or Corinthian capitals, while a few Doric columns are also present. The majority are round, but you’ll spot a few square columns as well.
Look closely and you’ll notice a few columns bearing Greek inscriptions. These were likely repurposed from door lintels. One column is particularly unusual, combining a lintel on its lower half with a Corinthian column on the upper half, a testament to the cistern’s inventive reuse of materials.
Crying Column
Among the cistern’s columns, the Crying Column is one to look out for. Also called the Hen’s Eye Column, its carvings resemble eyes with tears. According to ancient texts, the tears are a tribute to the hundreds of slaves who died during construction of the cistern. However, scholars believe the column more likely originated from the Triumphal Arch of Theodosius I at the nearby Forum of Theodosius (now Beyazıt Square). That arch had collapsed by 558, around the time the cistern was being built, and featured similar columns.
Medusa Columns
In the northwest corner of the Basilica Cistern stand the two most famous columns. Discovered between 1985 and 1987, they feature Medusa heads as bases. Their exact origin is unknown, though they date back to the late Roman period. One head is positioned sideways while the other lies upside-down, creating a striking and enigmatic visual effect.
Art Installations
Renovations have brought significant changes to the Basilica Cistern. Previously, visitors simply followed a dimly lit path to the Medusa heads and back, which could feel eerie. Today, carefully curated art installations and occasional evening concerts enhance the cistern’s unique atmosphere. Improved lighting highlights the architectural and artistic details, though the underground setting retains a mysterious, slightly haunting ambience for some visitors
Channel
Finally, before heading up the stairs to the exit, don’t forget to check out the channel. Measuring 8 meters in length, 70 centimeters in width, and 110 centimeters in height, it extends southeast and was uncovered during restoration work on the main wall in 2022.
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