Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Saray), Istanbul

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The great Byzantine cistern, located across from Hagia Sophia, was used to supply the necessary water to the city during the babarian attacks and when the city was under siege. 336 columns, with Doric and Corinthian capitals, were brought from various locations in Asia Minor for the construcction of the cistern. A monumental aqueduct, built by emperor Valens and still a major attraction of the city, porvided water to the cistern.

Locals have differents price, much cheaper than the toursit...can be like trap :(
Is amazing place to visit specially when face Medusa...after so many years hear about this place specially old time school.

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Takes your breath away when you walk down the steps to the Basilica Cistern because you just don't expect it to be this and only metres under your feet!

The cistern used to provide the water to the palace and surrounding builings through aquaducts. Was disused in the 15th century and was used throw junk in and even corpses!

Today there is a few feet of water in the bottom where carp swim freely and some of the 336 columns are eerily lit up (look out for the Teardrop one and the upside down medusa head columns).

Wet, weird place!

first i thinked that i will not visit it cause i didn,t read about it but my friend Rami
think to inter so we inter it and pay 10ytl=8$ per one , then i surprise so much in the
scence i saw inside it ,it,s underground cistern with 336 marbile columns and between them rows
and the cistern wall thickness is 4 meter ,and the ground is full of water with little light
it give you beautfull scence . so don,t miss it never

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You enter this place known to the world as one of the locations in James Bond's From Russia with Love through an unimpressive, even shabby little building. But after climbing down just a few steps - you seem to enter a hole new world. The cistern is just stunningly beautiful, but still mysterious. The whole place is enlighten just enough for you to see anything but it's still dark enough to make you feel curious about the place. You get to see where and how water was supplied for Istanbul in ancient times. There is even a small cafe where you can prolongate your stay in Yerebatan Cistern. One of the highlights of every Istanbul Trip!
(Open Daily between 9 a.m. and 5.30 p.m.)

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Located in the back of the Yerebatan Sarnici, these Medusa heads are placed beneath 2 separate columns that support the underground structure. Reasons why the heads were placed here are uncertain, but they are thought to have come from another Roman structure, possibly a Byzantine palace. The heads are oddly placed beneath the columns, one upside down, and the other on it's side. This also is a bit of a mystery, but it could be attributed to old Roman mythology regarding Medusa and her ability to turn a man into stone upon looking at her. The heads placed in this manner could have provided protection from her evil glare! :)

Of the 300+ columns within the Yerebatan Sarnici, the Tear Column definately stands out among them with it's unique design. The column, which is located near the center of the cistern, has inverted flowing tear designs on it, similar to the markings on a peacock. Although no definative information is known about it, it is thought that the column came from another location, possibly a Byzantine palace, to replace a previously damaged column.

The Basilica Cistern is the largest & most famous underground Byzantine cistern in Istanbul. It is also known by it's Turkish names Yerebatan Sarnici, or Yerebatan Sarayi, which means "sunken palace". It was constructed in the mid-500's A.D. during the reign of Justinian I in order to supply water to palaces located nearby. The water was brought in from far away water sources via aquaduct, and then stored in cisterns such as this one. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the cistern fell largely unused for centuries. During the 1980's a huge restoration project was conducted on the cistern, as well as walkways and lighting being added to allow tourists to visit. The 300+ marble columns, along with the added dim, upwardly fixed lighting, the almost eerie music being played overhead, and the hundreds of fish swimming in the water all provide a great experience. There's even a cafe down here if you care for a bite to eat or a drink.

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.