Basilica Cistern

The underground Basilica Cistern is incredibly beautiful. A dark and magnificent water palace hidden beneath the city. 336 pillars stretch as far as the eye can see, the dark ceiling reflecting the low light on the water's surface, the echoes gentle and calm.

Tickets are getting more and more expensive. According to travel guides, they were only 300 lira before 2014, then 800 lira, and now they've risen to 1500 lira, which is outrageously expensive. If you walk quickly, you can finish the trip in 10-15 minutes, but I spent a full 40 minutes taking photos because of such an expensive ticket.

Довольно интересное место в Стамбуле для посещения. Можно сделать хорошие фотографии и увидеть медузу (не живую медузу, каменную медузу, но не ту медузу, что медуза, а медузу, которая медуза).

🈶The cultural relics and historical significance are suitable for people who are interested in architecture and human history. If you are not interested in architecture and history, you will feel that 🎫 the cost performance is not high, and 🎫 the price is not very friendly to foreign tourists~

Comprehensive review of Istanbul Basilica Cistern ‌History and architectural features‌ ‌Scale and function‌: The Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) is a giant underground reservoir built in the Byzantine period (6th century). It is 140 meters long and 70 meters wide, with an area equivalent to a standard football field. It has a water storage capacity of 80,000-100,000 tons. It once supplied water to the palace and surrounding areas and had military defense functions‌12. 336 9-meter-high stone columns support the vault. Most of the columns were transported from temples in Anatolia. The capitals are carved in different styles (such as Corinthian and Doric), showing the wisdom of ancient architecture‌23. ‌Mysterious elements‌: ‌Tear column‌: A stone column engraved with teardrop patterns, which is said to commemorate the slaves who died during the construction‌23. ‌Medusa head‌: The head of the Gorgon inverted and sideways at the bottom of the pool, the origin of which is a mystery, may be a symbol of warding off evil or deterring the enemy‌23. ‌Cultural influence‌: Many movies (such as "Skyfall", "The Spy Who Came to the City", and "The Dante Code") were filmed here, adding to its mysterious color‌12. ‌Visiting experience‌ ‌Highlights‌: The underground space is magnificent and shocking, and the lights and water reflections create a dreamy atmosphere, suitable for photography and history enthusiasts‌23. It is adjacent to Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, and can be visited in series‌12. ‌Controversial points‌: ‌Ticket price‌: The ticket price for foreign tourists is about 130 yuan, which is much higher than that for local residents (about 1/5 of the price), and the cost-effectiveness is questioned‌4. ‌Visiting time‌: The whole journey takes about 15 minutes. Some tourists think that the content is thin and only supported by lighting effects and a small number of relics‌4. ‌Hidden entrance‌: The entrance sign is not obvious, and you need to be patient to find it‌24. ‌Suggestions‌ ‌Recommended crowd‌: Tourists who are interested in history, architecture or movie locations; if there is plenty of time and the budget allows, you can plan it in combination with surrounding attractions‌12. ‌Tips for avoiding pitfalls‌: Check the ticket price policy in advance to lower your psychological expectations; choose non-peak hours to avoid crowds‌4. ‌Summary‌: The Basilica Cistern is Istanbul's unique "underground miracle". Its historical value and mystery are worth exploring, but you need to weigh the ticket cost against your personal interests‌12.

The attraction is very ordinary. Only when I lined up for a long time, entered the narrow entrance, and stood on the steps looking down, I was still a little shocked at that moment. The Water Palace is not big, and the entrance is not obvious, but seeing that the front is not big and there are people queuing, it must be it. We are on a group tour. The black-hearted tour guide separated the Water Palace and turned it into a self-funded project. He lied to everyone that the tickets were very expensive. On the way from the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia to the Grand Bazaar, we passed by the Water Palace and didn't say anything. I observed it carefully, and then we secretly went to the Water Palace while the majority of the group members were crazy in the Grand Bazaar and didn't know what to buy. The ticket is a little expensive, it's really not worth it, but compared to spending 20 liras by myself, it's still more worthwhile than the tour guide's one-day tour of 130 US dollars (including the Water Palace, the New Palace, a cruise, and a shopping mall in the afternoon. It's strange that shopping in the mall can also be considered a one-day tour, and our majority of group members have signed up enthusiastically, thinking it is particularly worthwhile. I almost doubt my own three views). It's an ordinary attraction. If you have time, you can go shopping. If you don't have time, it's not a pity to miss it!

Happy travel, right time. Quick tour, everything is the best arrangement. Come here, choose him, no problem. The time is just right, the world is just right. Good mountains, good waters, good scenery, there will be a time to ride the wind and waves.

The Basilica Cistern is located next to the Hagia Sophia. According to historical records, its history dates back to the sixth century AD. The entire cistern is quite large. 336 9-meter-high Corinthian stone columns support the huge brick vault, and the columns are all engraved with exquisite reliefs, each with its own characteristics. Visitors entering the cistern are like walking into another world in Istanbul. A row of street lamps stand on the roadside, creating a quiet and remote, mysterious and hazy atmosphere. The teardrop-shaped columns in the center of the palace attract many tourists to stop, and the columns supported by two inverted Medusa heads stand on the northwest side of the palace reservoir, which is the most amazing part of the cistern. We learned about this cistern through the Turkish pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Now we are in front of it, it is really shocking.