 | Istanbul Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Saray) Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 82 |  |
 | |  |  | Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Saray): an unique palace within Water! | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
One of İstanbul's historical art product is the Basilica Cistern which is situated at a short distance further southwest of Ayasofya. This underground cistern, which was named idiomatically by the local people as "Yerebatan Palace" because of the columns that arise from its water and create an image of a place, was constructed by Emperor Justinianus The First (527-567 A.D). It is thought that in the late years of the Roman Empire, around the 3rd and 4th Century, at the place where the cistern is found today, there existed a great Basilica which was used for trade, legal, scientific and artistic activities. . According to their findings the cistern is a vast building of 140 m. long and 70 m. wide. In this cistern, which can be reached after walking down 52 steps on stone stairs, there are 336 columns each 9 m. high spaced at a distance of 4.8 m. apart. There are 12 lines of columns each line comprising of 28 columns. The columns erected in the water in this way resemble a vast forest and for that reason they happen to be the centre of attraction to the visitors as soon as they enter the cistern. The weight of the entire cistern's ceiling is adequately distributed to the columns through round arches. These columns are considered to have been collected from ancient buildings. They Are made of various types of marble and granite stones and they are mostly of one piece each although some of them are of two pieces placed on top of each other. The heads of these columns have different specialities 98 of them depict the Corint style while as the rest depict the Dor style. The cisterns which were used to supply water to the Byzantium palaces and the surrounding buildings were used for watering the sultan's palace gardens for a short time during the Ottomans after their conquest of Istanbul in 1453 A.D. The Ottomans who preferred flowing water to stagnant one constructed their own water system in the city and the water from the cistern was no longer used. open 7 days in a week between 9a.m.-5p.m. Leave a Comment Address: Yerebatan Cad. No:13 Sultanahmet / İstanbulDirections: take a metro/subway to go to Sultanahmet area. you will see the sign to "YEREBATAN SARNICI ",just follow it or you can ask anybody around there,they will show you.Other Contact: contact@yerebatansarnici.com
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| | | | Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Saray): Notes from the Underground | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Istanbul is often described as mystical, but when you go down the steps into the cool, dark Palace Cistern (also Byzantine Cistern, Basilica Cistern or Yerebetan Sarayi), it doesn’t get more mystical and magical than that. This underground reservoir was built by the Emperor Justinian in the 6th century to store water brought via aqueduct from 19 kilometers away. The arched roof is supported by marble columns, 336 in all (I didn’t count; I read the sign outside…). These columns are lit up to create a wonderful play of light and shadow. You walk through on a wooden walkway to the sounds of soft classical music and dripping water. If you look closely, there are goldfish darting around in the water. One column with a greenish tint and a swirly circle pattern has a thumb-size hole in the side. Stick your finger in, swivel your hand around and make your wish. I saw a similar column on a traffic island on the main boulevard of Sultanahmet. So if the line is too long in the cistern, I bet that one works just as well. Justinian’s builders didn’t actually carve all these Ionic, Doric and Corinthian columns: This was a case of ancient recycling: They reused materials from old buildings. From the giant carved Medusa heads in one corner of the cavernous structure, one upside down and the other on its side, it seems clear these builders never attended any courses in art appreciation. In Greek mythology, Medusa was a gorgeous gal with a great head of hair, but Athena, queen of the gods, was jealous. She turned her into a monster with serpents growing out of her head, and anyone who looked at her turned into stone. Ever since my trip to Istanbul, I think of poor Medusa when I have a bad hair day (which is often). The Turks are an enterprising bunch. After removing centuries of mud from the cistern and reopening it in 1987, they didn’t forget to build a café on a wooden deck in the corner. Sometimes there are concerts here. Overhead hangs a large piece of plastic sheeting, insuring that diners and musicians stay dry. Leave a Comment Directions: Near Aya Sofia Entrance fee: 10 YTL Opening hours: 9 am - 3 pm (presumably, the concerts are in the evening)
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| | | | Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Saray): Where to visit in Istanbul... Day 1 | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
Take a tram to Eminonu. Get off in the last stop. Turn your back to the sea and in front of you is the New mosque(Yeni cami) and next to it is the Spice market.. Walk in to the spice market, You will see all kinds of spices, herbal teas, souvenirs and etc.after touring in the market, go back the same way and walk to the main tram station. Follow the tramline either by walking or taking a tram. When you are about to reach the Sultanahmet Square on the right bank you will see the basilica cistern, Underground waterway built in year 532 was used as a reservoir for water storage for the Great Palace and other buildings. It is 132 m length, by 65m wide. There are 336 columns in the cistern. Most of the column capitals are either in Corinthian or Doric Style. At the far end of the cistern, there are two heads of Medusa, which are put upside down, or horizontal. Because of its magic atmosphere and great acoustics, this cistern is now hosting many Classical Music Concerts. The enrance fee is 10 YTL, around 7 USD Leave a Comment Directions: Sultanahmet Square. On the other side of St Sophia museum.
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