Why to visit Basilica Cistern
This is Istanbul's largest underground cistern, which is regarded a wonder of Byzantine engineering and allows visitors to learn about the lives of historical figures. Hen's eye column, which has a teardrop motif on it, is one of the most noticeable features of this cistern. It contains a cafe and well-lit elevated pathways for tourists' convenience. Visitors are also impressed by the Basilica Cistern's 336 columns, each nine metres long, and two Medusa heads, which make it one of Istanbul's most famous historical attractions.
This cistern is a 138-meter-long, 65-meter-wide underground chamber. It is 9,800 square metres in size and can hold nearly 80,000 cubic metres of water. The cistern supplied water to the Byzantine palaces and other nearby populations. After the capture of Istanbul in 1453, it was used for a period. The water was utilised in Topkap Palace's gardens.
From Sultanahmet's Yerebatan Caddesi (street), enter the Basilica Cistern. The Spice Market, the Eminonu tram station, and the Eminonu pier, where the ferries arrive, are all a 20-minute walk away.
