İskender PaŞa Mahalesİ Oyun Boza (0.0 km from Basilica Cistern)
ÖZ DÜNYA HOTEL features air-conditioned rooms with satellite flat-screen TV in the Fatih district of Istanbul. Featuring room service this property also provides guests with a terrace.
Alemdar Mah. Yerebatan Cad. No:13 S (0.0 km from Basilica Cistern)
Conveniently set in the Fatih district of Istanbul Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul is located 131 feet from Basilica Cistern 1312 feet from Hagia Sophia and 1148 feet from Blue Mosque.
Caferiye Sok. No.6 Sultanahmet (0.0 km from Basilica Cistern)
Offering charming views of Hagia Sophia Museum this special class hotel is within easy walking distance of Sultanahmet Square. Free WiFi and elegant accommodation is available.
Alemdar Cad.No:2 Sultanahmet (0.1 km from Basilica Cistern)
Located in Sultanahmet Boutique Saint Sophia Hotel is a perfect starting point from which to explore Istanbul. The hotel offers a high standard of service and amenities to suit the individual needs of all travelers.
Alemdar mah. Yerebatan Cad. No13 Su (0.1 km from Basilica Cistern)
Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul offers top-notch services and amenities ensuring guests experience utmost comfort. Share your photos and respond to emails at your convenience thanks to the free Wi-Fi internet access offered by hotel.
Alemdar Mah. Zeynep Sultan Cami Sok (0.1 km from Basilica Cistern)
Cheers Hostel Istanbul is located in the heart of Sultanahmet just minutes from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. It offers a terrace bar with views of the Old Istanbul.
Yerebatan Cad. Muhteremefendi Sok. (0.1 km from Basilica Cistern)
Located in Sultanahmet The Million Stone Hotel Special Category is a perfect starting point from which to explore Istanbul. Featuring a complete list of amenities guests will find their stay at the property a comfortable one.
18 Yerebatan Cd. (0.1 km from Basilica Cistern)
Located in Sultanahmet The And Hotel - Special Category is a perfect starting point from which to explore Istanbul. The hotel offers a wide range of amenities and perks to ensure you have a great time.
The Basilica Cistern Istanbul is a subterranean structure located beneath the city of Istanbul. It was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, making it one of the oldest existing structures in the city. The cistern was originally used to store water for the city and was fed by aqueducts from a nearby lake, allowing it to remain filled despite its size. In modern times, it has become a popular tourist attraction in Istanbul, with its impressive size and architecture drawing thousands of visitors each year.
The cistern is immense, measuring approximately 140 meters long by 70 meters wide and containing 336 marble columns that stand up to 9 meters tall. These columns are arranged in 12 rows and support an arched roof that allows light to enter the cistern and illuminate its waters. Most notably however is an upside-down Medusa head sculpture that can be seen at one end of the cistern, believed to have been brought here from another location as part of architectural reuse.
The Basilica Cistern Istanbul is renowned for its remarkable engineering; it has remained standing for more than 1,500 years despite being constructed using ancient technology and techniques. The construction process involved excavating a huge open space beneath the city streets before reinforcing it with brick walls and buttresses as well as covering it with a large slab of stone known as a "muqarnas". Additionally, elaborate systems were put in place to keep out sediment from entering via incoming water supplies which still work today.
Today, tourists can explore this vast underground structure either on their own or on guided tours which provide further insight into its history and importance since Justinian’s time. Furthermore, several events are held throughout the year at this historic site – including music concerts – providing an opportunity for visitors to experience something truly unique when visiting Istanbul!