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The Basilica Cistern

Yerebatan Sarnici

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Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Recommended Sightseeing Time: 1 hour

Address: Alemdar Mh., Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34410 Fatih / Istanbul

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Phone: +90-212-5121570

What people are saying:

The entrance is not expensive, the entrance is very hidden, the small white house, the queue is very large, the best to go in the morning. The scene in the movie is seen, but the light is dim, there is a very strange feeling.

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It used to be the location of "The Istanbul" and Jackie Chan's movie "The Secret Service". I see the sisters who are also playing here. High This is one of the most romantic and mysterious spots in Istanbul. In this huge underground palace built from 300 large stone columns, there is a mysterious tear column with a tree streak and a peacock eye. Legends will bring good luck to people. Just draw your thumb into the hole and draw a circle to achieve your wish. There are two stone pillars that are particularly interesting to tourists, one is the "Medusa Head". In Greek mythology, the beauty of the snake, Medusa, represents evil. The blue devil eyes in Turkey and Greece are said to be Medusa's eyes. The arrangement of the two Medusa heads is not the same, one head down and one side face down. Pressed by a huge stone column at the bottom of the underground palace. Bless the city forever from the evil forces.

lenka

It was originally a reservoir built in the Byzantine period of the 6th century for war. According to historical records, the underground palace was in 542 AD, and Julianian the Great used 7,000 slaves to build on the ruins of the church. On the one hand, it was to ensure the supply of water to the court, and on the other hand to prevent enemies from being trapped and prepared. Water Palace has a water storage capacity of 100,000 tons. If it is full of water, it is said that it can be used for a month. In the city of Istanbul, there are numerous underground palaces, but the Jelebatan Groundwater Palace is the largest of them. The entire water palace is 140 meters long and 70 meters wide. The 336 tall and 9-meter-high Corinthian stone columns support huge brick vaults, which are said to have been transported from the temples of the Antalya region. . During the Ottoman Empire, the Water Palace was abandoned until the mid-16th century, when the Dutch did not intend to discover it, only to make it see the sky again. Hollywood's "007 in Istanbul" and Jackie Chan's "Secret City" have been here. On December 28th, 2016, the film "Dante Password" was released here.

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The underground palace is an underground building next to the Hagia Sophia. It was originally used for water storage in the Imperial Palace and has a capacity of up to 100,000 tons. It was also used as a military ammunition depot. In fact, it is not big here. You can go back and forth in half an hour. It is not in the museum package. You need to purchase tickets separately. Many people will ignore this attraction. However, there is an unsolved mystery inside: there are two mysterious Medusa heads under the water column. Why is one side placed on the side?

Travel-Xavier

Although the underground palace is far less famous than the Hagia Sophia, there are many people. The place to go is only a place one or two meters wide. The scenery that can be visited in is not particularly large, but you can slow down and feel the sculptures on each pillar on the wall. You will find many hidden gems. Tickets for Groundwater Palace are 20 lire. The pass does not include this attraction and is subject to an additional charge. Business hours are: mid-April to the end of September 9

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Additional Information

Introduction

The Basilica Cistern is located next to the Hagia Sophia Museum and was built under the orders of Byzantine Emperor Justinian. It has a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters of water, served as an underground reservoir used by the Byzantine and Ottoman Palaces and is still in use today. The Basilica Cistern is now a famous tourist attraction due to its historic importance and architectural beauty. In the dim light of the Basilica Cistern, thick Corinthian stone pillars support massive brick vaults engraved with exquisite reliefs. Sometimes you can even find fish swimming about. Because of the unique air of mystery here, it has served as a filming site for both the James Bond installment, “Skyfall”, and Jackie Chan’s “Secret City”.

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