MUSEUM OF BASILICA CISTERN

Located on the left side of the Haghia Sophia-Gülhane Park road in Sultanahmet, the Basilica Cistern is also known as Yerebatan place. It was built in approximately 540 A.D. by the Emperor justinianos I of the Byzantine Empire. A big square was dug underneath the ground and it was supported by 300 columns. At the time, it was the most important water storage area and provided water to the whole city The cistern was cleaned and renovated between 1985-1988 by the İstanbul Municipality. Today, it is open to visitors. Its exotic and unbelievable appearance makes the cistern an irresistible attraction.