Noone would ever guess that under the city of Istanbul, standing 52 feet underground lies an entire world of water systems and reservoir built 1500 years ago in the age of Constantinople. Hundreds of ancient cisterns still hold water today, lying quietly beneath the modern world without disturbing anyone or anything on the surface. Out of these hundreds, the Basilica Cistern is the biggest and most mysterious of them all.

Known for its mystical atmosphere and vast stone chambers, it’s no surprise that hordes of tourists line up for hours to see the world beneath the normal. Built in the 6th century, this massive cistern has withstood 22 earthquakes with its 336 columns holding it upright – a feat that today’s architects and engineers find staggering.

If you’ve come across images of the Basilica Cistern and wonder why you should see this place, then read on to find out. For those traveling to Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern is located near Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque so make sure you don’t miss it! It’s a world unto itself.

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Visiting Information

Basilica Cistern Cost and Timing: The Basilica Cistern is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a second evening slot from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., offering a unique light show experience with a higher-priced night ticket. Entry fee in the morning is around 900 Turkish Lira, while evening access requires a ticket priced at around 1300 Turkish Lira as of 2024​.

How to Avoid Long Queues: For visitors looking to avoid the often-long lines, skip-the-line tickets or guided tours are a great option. You might find other information telling you to reach there early in the morning or mid-afternoon to avoid crowds, but this is redundant as visitors start lining up from before the opening hours.

So, to avoid the hour-long waiting lines, skip-the-line tickets allow quicker access, especially helpful during peak seasons, and can include additional historical insights from guides.

Multiple Attraction Pass (Money Saving): The Basilica Cistern is included in a lot of multiple-attraction tickets which can be purchased to access other popular sites nearby, such as Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, for a more efficient visit to the historic area. You can also enter the cistern with an Istanbul e-pass.

The Basilica Cistern History

Emperor Justinian I, also the ruler who commissioned the construction of the famous Hagia Sophia, built this massive, seemingly impossible cistern during his reign. Justinian, known for his ambitious building projects, aimed to restore the glory of the empire after it had suffered damage during a series of conflicts and revolts.

The emperor built the Basilica Cistern to address Constantinople’s critical need for a secure and reliable water supply, especially during times of crisis.

During the 6th century, the Byzantine Empire faced constant threats from foreign invaders, making it essential for the city to have access to ample water reserves in case of a siege.

Constantinople’s location and dense population created this need, as the city’s walls limited access to natural water sources. And Justinian sought out a solution for this crisis by building the largest cistern in Istanbul.

He commissioned the construction of the Basilica Cistern, not far from the emperor’s residence and the Great Palace. With 336 columns supporting the roof, this monstrous sized underground water reservoir could hold up to 80,000 cubic meters of water—an impressive feat for its time.

With its immense size (over 140 meters long and 65 meters wide), it was a vital resource for the Byzantine Empire, showcasing both the grandeur of Justinian’s ambitions and the technological advancement of his engineers.

The Pillars: Salvaged Artifacts from Ancient Temples

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Basilica Cistern is its collection of columns, each one unique in style and origin. Byzantine builders often took materials from older structures, and the Basilica Cistern is no exception. They salvaged columns from ancient temples, likely from various locations across the empire, to support the cistern’s ceiling.

Many of the columns’ showcase different designs, with some carved in the classical Corinthian style, while others feature simpler, more utilitarian patterns. A few of these columns feature teardrop or peacock-eye motifs, adding a unique touch to the place. Visitors can easily spot the Greco-Roman influence that the Byzantine Empire embraced, with some columns reflecting this style more prominently.

The Mysterious Water System

The Basilica Cistern’s water system is what the cistern is all about and where all its mystery are. While Belgrade Forest, located over 19 kilometers away, is one place where the water comes from into the cistern, it’s unclear where the rest of the water that fills up the cistern comes from.

The Byzantine Empire created an advanced engineering system that transported water across long distances. Despite being kilometres away, the water flowed into the cistern solely through the power of gravity. But the exact route and methods of how they achieved this is completely unknown. What kind of underground springs or whichever sources they used to fill the cistern to its full capacity remains unknown.

The Myth of Medusa’s Head

The Basilica Cistern has an added Greek myth to its mysterious structure – the statue of the Medusa head. At the corner of the cistern, two pillars are supported by Medusa’s head at the bottom. One is positioned upside down, while the other lies sideways. A statue of Medusa also adorns the cistern.

The presence of these two particular pillars has sparked centuries of speculation, as Medusa’s image is associated with protection and warding off evil, making her an unusual choice for a water storage facility.

The positioning of the heads has led to various theories. One popular interpretation is that placing Medusa’s head upside-down or sideways aimed to nullify her petrifying gaze and neutralize any danger she might represent. Another possibility is that the builders simply repositioned the head to fit the base of the pillars and the available space

The exact origins of the Medusa heads remain a mystery, though many believe builders salvaged them from a pagan temple. Their presence adds an eerie, almost mystical touch to the cistern, making the underwater reservoir having a reputation as a place of secrets and ancient power.

The Ottoman’s Dumping Grounds

Despite its grand construction and even grander history of water supply, the cistern was left forgotten when the Great Palace was abandoned by the emperor once the Byzantine Empire fell into decline and Constantinople came under Ottoman rule in 1453.

The Ottomans, with their preference for running water sources like fountains and aqueducts, had little need for underground reservoirs. As a result, the cistern was no longer used for water storage and was effectively left to ruin, becoming a dumping ground for all sorts of objects from everyday materials to corpses.

It wasn’t until the late 16th century that the Basilica Cistern was rediscovered by a French researcher, Petrus Gyllius. While researching the Byzantine relics of Constantinople, Gyllius noticed that locals were drawing water from very deep shafts in their basements and even catching fish underground. Intrigued, he investigated further and unearthed the hidden cistern, bringing it to the attention of the wider world once more.

The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality cleaned and renovated the cistern in 1985, then opened it to the public in 1987. It’s now one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Walking along its raised wooden platforms, you’ll feel water dripping from the vaulted ceiling and see schools of carp patrolling the water – it certainly has a reservoir of mystic and atmosphere.

Light Shows

Today, the Basilica Cistern has been transformed from a forgotten ruin into one of Istanbul’s most popular tourist attractions. One of its popular experiences is at night, when the cistern comes alive in various colors of red, blue and green. In addition to light shows, the Basilica Cistern also has several art installations, making the place come alive with creativity and restoring the place to its former glory.

Shooting Location for Dan Brown’s Inferno

Video: (Inferno Basilica Cistern) – The scene in the movie Inferno shot at Basilica Cistern

While the Basilica Cistern was indeed popular, it became even more famous after it graced the screen in Dan Brown’s Inferno. Tom Hanks’ character can be seen running amongst the columns and diving into the streams to catch the antagonist. While the actual water reservoir isn’t so deep, you can definitely live the scenes of Inferno amongst its 300+ columns.

If you’re a fan of Inferno, this place and the nearby Hagia Sophia should definitely be on your list and Langdon hoped across the streets of Istanbul and its famous mosque to solve the clues. Walking through the cistern’s cool, dimly lit passages, you might wonder why there are Medusa statues, where did Justinian find enough water to support the entire reservoir even today. And how it all came into one place.

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