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YEREBATAN / BASILICA / UNDERGROUND WATER CISTERN

Yerebatan or Basilica Cistern built by the order of Emperor Constantine in 532 to supply water to city. Water was carrying outside from the city with pipe system, aqueduct and serve to city. One of the most important purposes to build that big size cistern was; to supply water to the city especially during long sieges of Constantinople. The enlarged cistern provided a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings on the First Hill, and continued to provide water to the Topkapi Palace after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 and into modern times.

It is one of the biggest cisterns in the world with its 9,800 square meters in area and capable of holding 80,000 cubic meters of water. The ceiling is supported by a forest of 336 marble columns, each 9 meters high.

This is one of the best examples of Roman architecture. Historical texts claim that 7,000 slaves were involved in the construction of the cistern. After the restoration, it has been serving as a museum since 1987.
There are two Medusa heads in northwest corner of the cistern. Repalaced sideways and upside down. They are believed that The Romans are not pagan anymore, that’s why repalaced one of the great symbol on Antique Greek period since they become Christian after 335 when Istanbul become capital of Eastern Roman Empire.  

Practical Information
*Open everyday of year from 09.00 am. to 06.00 pm. except 1st of January and first days of religious festivals.
*Just one minute away from Sultan Ahmet tram stop, across to Hagia Sophia.
*Entrance fee is 10 Turkish lira.

Book the tour for YEREBATAN / BASILICA / UNDERGROUND WATER CISTERN

 
 
ok BASILICA CISTERN ok DOLMABAHCE PALACE ok SPICE BAZAAR
ok BLUE MOSQUE ok EMINONU SQUARE ok SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
ok BOSPHORUS ok GALATA TOWER ok PRINCES ISLAND
ok CAMLICA HILL ok GRAND BAAZAR ok TOPKAPI PALACE
ok CHORA MUSEUM ok HAGIA SOPHIA ok WOODEN SUMMER HOUSES
ok ANADOLU KAVAGI ok BEYLERBEYI PALACE ok LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA
ok PAMMAKARISTOS CHURCH ok POYRAZKOY ok RUMELI FORTRESS
ok HIPODROME ok GOLDEN HORN and PIERRE LOTI HILL ok ORTAKOY
ok MAIDEN TOWER ok TAKSIM SQUARE & ISTIKLAL STREET  
 
 
 
YEREBATAN / BASILICA / UNDERGROUND WATER CISTERN
YEREBATAN / BASILICA / UNDERGROUND WATER CISTERN
YEREBATAN / BASILICA / UNDERGROUND WATER CISTERN
 
daily istanbul tours
Historical Treasuries
Hippodrome
Blue Mosque
Hagia Sophia
Grand Bazaar
Topkapı Palace
Little Hagia Sophia Mosque
 
Highlights of Istanbul
Highlights of Istanbul
Cruise tour with private boat in Golden Horn and Bosporus
Drive along the Golden Horn to Pierre Loti Hill
Short cable car experience
Dolmabahçe Palace
Drive over the Bosporus Bridge
Step to the Asian part, the highest point in the city with full view of Istanbul
 
Cruise in Bosporus
Cruise in Bosphorus
Cruise in Bosphorus, passing under two Bosporus Bridges
See both sides of the city (Asia and Europe) from the sea
Come alongside of the Asian side of the city
Have a small break in a nice suburb of Asian side called Kanlica
 
Bosporus and Black Sea Cruise
Cruise in the Bosphorus and the Black Sea coast
Drive from the old city to the pier of Kabatas to start the cruise
Stop in Ortakoy to visit the district and feel its cosmopolitan ambience
Cross to the Asian side of the city to visit the summer palace called "Beylerbeyi"
The fortress of Europe
Anadolu Kavagi
 
Prince’s Islands Tour
Princes' Islands Tour
Sail from the city to the Sea of Marmara
Visit to Kinali and Heybeli Islands
Have a stop in Buyukada (Great Island)
Have lunch on the boat and swimming break in the secret bay of the island
 
 
 
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