Hello dear travelers! We're back in Norway, and before we went back, when we came to Istanbul from Çanakkale, we finally went to a place that I really wanted to see. I'm sad that the vacation is over, but we missed Norway too, and now we will tell you about the places we will visit in Norway. Finally, today we want to take you to one of the extraordinary historical riches of Istanbul. Istanbul is a city overflowing with thousands of years of history, and there are still many treasures waiting to be discovered in this city. One of them is the Basilica Cistern. Let's start if you are ready!
The Basilica Cistern is located in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, right next to the famous Hagia Sophia Mosque. According to my information, this cistern was built in ancient times to meet the water needs of Istanbul and was used during the Byzantine Empire. This cistern, was built between 532-542, was an indispensable structure for storing and distributing water at that time. It withstood the Arab siege in the 7th century and was used by the Ottoman Empire after the conquest of Istanbul. However, over the years it was forgotten and covered over. In 1985, it was discovered by chance and then restored and opened to visitors.
The Basilica Cistern has an atmosphere that mesmerizes you as soon as you step inside. There were very large granite columns inside, these columns were from the Byzantine period and were decorated with various designs. It was very crowded inside and I know it is one of the most important places tourists come to see in Istanbul. As soon as you enter, the moisture level rises very high, there is a very depressed air inside and sometimes it is even difficult to breathe. This disturbed me a bit, but I didn't mind after the amazing sights I saw inside. Drops of water flow from the ceiling to the floor, the floor is completely covered in water and an iron road has been made for visitors to walk on, and everyone discovers the beauties of the cistern on this road.
As you walk around the cistern, the sound of the water calms you and you feel like you are on a journey into the past. Perhaps the most impressive detail is the Medusa heads carved on the walls of the cistern. These heads, the faces of mythological creatures, were a secret representing the unknown. This is what everyone was most interested in, including us. I want to tell you more about the wonderful images here
Keep in Mind Before You Go!
Basilica Cistern is a must-see historical monument in Istanbul. If you want to visit, it is useful to check the days and hours it is open in advance. I recommend you to buy your ticket online. The ticket queue in front of the door is very long. While the foreign visitor fee is 450 TL until 7 pm, it is 650 TL between 7 pm and 10 pm. I think the ticket fee is a bit exaggeratedly expensive for foreigners, but I think it is a must-see place. Since we went before 7 pm, we paid 530 TL in total. Also, if you want to pay at the door, keep in mind that you need to have TL on you, they do not accept foreign currency.
Today, we have taken you to one of Istanbul's hidden treasures, the Basilica Cistern, by traveling into the depths of history and taking you to this extraordinary structure.
I hope we have been able to convey to you the richness of Istanbul, which is hidden not only on the surface but also underground. It's time for us to say goodbye to Istanbul! You are so beautiful Istanbul...
