Istanbul is a city full of surprises when it comes to breathtaking architecture, and none will surprise you better than Basilica Cistern (Yerabatan Sarnici in Turkish). This must-see treasure of Istanbul sits very close to the iconic Hagia Sophia in Sultanahmet district, but unlike the world-famous mosque, it is located underground. Fun fact; there are as many as 100 big underground cisterns scattered all over Istanbul.
The Basilica Cistern is one of two such cisterns open to the public. Its wondrous architecture makes it the most visited of the two, attracting over one million eager tourists each year. This awe-inspiring achievement of human endeavor dates back to the Byzantine era during the reign of Emperor Justinian I. It served to supply water to the Great Palace (the then seat of the Byzantine rulers) and could hold up to 80,000 cubic meters, attesting to the structure’s sheer colossal size.
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