The Basilica Cistern
1180 reviews
October 10, 2024
Entrance is paid. 80 TL for adult, 30 TL for students. Expect a queue of approximately half an hour.
Basilica Cistern, also known as the Basilica, built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527-565) in 532, attracts attention with its seemingly countless marble columns rising from the water. The cistern, where 7 thousand slaves were employed during construction, was completed in 38 years. This giant structure, which covers a rectangular area with a length of 140 meters and a width of 70 meters, has the capacity to store approximately 100 thousand tons of water. There are 336 columns inside the cistern, each 9 meters high. 98 of these columns reflect the Corinthian style, and some reflect the Doric style. The two Medusa Heads used as pedestals under two columns (one placed sideways and the other upside down) are masterpieces of Roman Period sculpture art and are the structures that attract the most attention of those who visit the cistern.
Due to their religious beliefs, the Ottoman people preferred flowing water over stagnant water. For this reason, the cistern was used for irrigation for a long time after the conquest of Istanbul and remained idle when the Ottoman Empire started to establish and use its own water facilities. P. Gyllius, of French origin, came to Istanbul, to the palace of Suleiman the Magnificent, in 1544, representing the King of France, François I, in order to collect valuable manuscripts for the library of the Kingdom of France. Gyllius is so fascinated by Istanbul that he says, "All cities in the world are doomed to die, but Istanbul will live as long as people exist."
While wandering around Hagia Sophia, Gyllius hears that people get water from the wells inside their houses and even fish. In fact, Gyllius is interested in ichthyology, the science of fish. Perhaps the subject of “fishing” impressed him and thus he asked: “What is there in this area with water underneath?” He thought and did his research. In the walled courtyard of a large wooden house known to the public, he sees stone steps leading underground. Taking a torch in his hand, he goes down these steps. He encounters a huge cistern below. In the following days, he descends to this cistern again and again and begins to wander on the water in a boat. He takes the measurements of the cistern and identifies the columns. He visited many important historical monuments of Istanbul until 1547, when he stayed in the city, and wrote very important books about the Bosphorus and the monuments he visited. These writings were published by his nephew in 1561-62, after Gyllius' sudden death.
Although it is not known exactly where and for what purpose the Medusa heads used as pedestals under the columns in the cistern were brought, there are some opinions about this:
According to a legend, Medusa is one of the three Gorgona sisters, female monsters of the underworld in Greek mythology. Snake-headed Medusa has the power to turn those who look at her to stone.
According to one view, Gorgona paintings and sculptures were used to protect large buildings and special places at that time. This is why the head of Medusa was placed in the cistern.
According to another rumor, Medusa; She was a girl who was proud of her black eyes, long hair and beautiful body. Medusa loved Zeus' son Perseus. Meanwhile, Athena also loved Perseus and was jealous of Medusa. That's why Athena turned Medusa's hair into snakes. Now everyone Medusa looked at turned into stone. Later, Perseus cut off Medusa's head and had the opportunity to defeat many of his enemies by taking advantage of her power. Based on this, the Head of Medusa was engraved on sword hilts in Byzantium and placed upside down on column bases (to prevent ministers from being cut into stone).
According to another rumor, Medusa looked sideways and turned herself into stone. That's why the sculptor who made the statue here made Medusa in three different positions according to the reflection angles of light.
3
April 30
Magnificient. Especially thinking the time of construction🙏
March 2
A highly energetic place.
March 28
Highly recommend for visiting. Absolutely worth it. Entrance fee is 1200 Turkish lira. There is also audial guide available for extra 200 lira.
January 16
Very lovely place but expensive for tourists and we waited 1 hour to go into.
March 7
Great place to have a look at the civilization foundation.
December 14, 2024
good
August 15, 2024
Beautiful place
3
October 9, 2023
Crowded. But nice to see this place
May 5
Magnificent
3
June 5, 2023
A fascinating sight
November 21, 2024
The Basilica Cistern is one of the largest and best preserved ancient underground reservoirs in Constantinople, which bears some resemblance to the palace complex, located in the historical center of Istanbul in the Sultan Ahmed district opposite the Hagia Sophia.
Here we were greatly surprised at how the entire architecture was preserved. To be honest, I counted all 336 columns, 12 rows of 28 columns, eight meters high. The columns stand at a distance of 4.8 meters from each other. The walls are 4 meters thick and made of refractory bricks and covered with a special waterproofing solution.
There I saw a lot of pennies from different countries, different currencies. This is certainly something. I really liked it and I'm in a hurry to watch the movie starring Tom Hanks - "INFERNO"
The cost of the visit is 15,000 tenge (3,100 rubles; $ 31) if you take it at the checkout.
The queue lasts a maximum of 30 minutes. So go ahead to the Tank💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
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6
April 13
The Basilica Cistern is one of the most mysterious and atmospheric places in Istanbul! The underground reservoir of the VI century impresses with its scale and mysterious beauty. Walking along the wooden bridges over the water, illuminated by a soft reddish light, you feel as if you are transported to another era.
A special impression is made by the columns "growing" out of the water, many of which have preserved antique ornaments. And the famous inverted heads of the Jellyfish, which serve as the base for two columns, add mystique to this place. Everything here breathes history, and even the slight coolness of the cistern becomes a pleasant escape on a hot day.
On the downside, it can sometimes be crowded, and because of the limited space, it's difficult to take photos without tourists in the frame. But these are small things compared to the emotions that this place gives.
I advise you to take an audio guide or read about the cistern in advance to understand its significance in the history of Byzantium. And take your time: allow yourself a few minutes of silence to experience the atmosphere of this unique monument.
**The result:** A must-have item of the program for lovers of history, architecture and unusual locations. 5/5!
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8
March 31
The Basilica Cistern is an ancient underground reservoir in Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet district, next to St. Sophia Cathedral.
Construction began in the first half of the fourth century under Emperor Constantine I and was completed in 532, when Justinian ruled over Byzantium.
Ten interesting facts
1. The tank's dimensions are impressive: its length is 140 meters and its width is 70 meters. The total storage capacity is 80 thousand cubic meters. For comparison, this is about 1,000 one-bedroom Khrushchev apartments. I must say that when the tank was being prepared for restoration, 50,000 tons of water were pumped out of it!
2. The arches of the cistern are supported by 336 columns! They are arranged in 12 rows, each with 28 columns. Scientists believe that most of them were taken for construction from other, more ancient buildings (most likely, from ancient temples).
3. The underground reservoir has an insulating wall 4 meters thick. This wall is covered with a special waterproof compound.
4. It is said that some residents kept boats in the underground storage, from which they caught fish in it, and then sold it in their shops. By the way, even now in the far corner of the cistern there is a small pond where carp swim. They are also called the silent guardians of this dungeon.
5. In the Basilica Cistern (Istanbul), scenes for various films were repeatedly shot. For example, Andrei Konchalovsky shot several episodes of his Odyssey here. The cistern also served as a backdrop for filming a James Bond movie scene. This dungeon is also one of the main places where the events of Dan Brown's book "Inferno" take place.
6. Initially, water from the cistern was supplied to the Imperial Palace of Constantinople. Now this palace has been completely destroyed, and you can only see its mosaics in the Mosaic Museum. Later, the water was used to irrigate the park of the Topkapi Palace.
7. Right above the tank, there is now a part of the tramway and the tourist police office.
8. The Weeping Column. (Not to be confused with the Weeping Column, which is located in the Hagia Sophia Cathedral). Among the three hundred columns in the dungeon, there is one notable column, which is called either the Weeping Column or the Teardrop Column. Unlike other columns, it is always wet, besides, patterns in the form of drops (teardrops) are carved on it. Some sources report that this column was erected in memory of the hundreds of slaves who died during the construction of the Basilica Cistern. By the way, similar columns can be seen on Istanbul street among the stone fragments of the Theodosius Forum (1.5 km from the cistern). These columns were used in the construction of the Arc de Triomphe. You can find them as follows. You need to take a high-speed tram and get to the Beyazit-Kapalycharshi stop, and then walk away from the center along the street where the tram runs. 300 meters away on the left side of the street you will see what remains of the ancient forum of Theodosius. Among the ruins, fragments of columns with drops (tears) immediately catch the eye.
9. Apparently, because of the wonderful acoustics, performances of symphony orchestras and music festivals are held in the Basilica Cistern (Istanbul). By the way, in the movie "Inferno" the final scene of the pursuit of villains takes place just during such a concert.
10. The inverted head of a jellyfish. Or rather, even two heads, but the one that is turned 180 degrees is better known. The second one is mounted on its side (turned 90 degrees). In fact, these are stone blocks on which the faces of jellyfish are carved. These blocks are installed at the base of two columns. Why these heads are here and why they are installed "incorrectly" is still unknown. Presumably, the heads were used without much intent, simply because they were taken from another destroyed structure as building material. And they are turned over to make them easier to install. But there is another opinion: the heads are set in such a way that the incoming ones do not turn to stone by looking into the monster's eyes, because it is in this position that the jellyfish allegedly lose their evil power.
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5
December 25, 2024
We expected more..
The place itself is very clean, beautiful, especially charming is the change of lighting (red, brown and green).
Strong platforms, a story in stone...
what didn't you like? There are several modern installations, cheap plastic without logic or subtext.
I'm sorry, but you can try for 900 lire per person....
We took the tickets offline at the box office...And yet, about the columns from different temples in Greece, it was clearly PR, in general, most of them were monotonous, several Corinthian...
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10
1
April 5
Visiting the Basilica Cistern has become for me a real journey into the depths of the centuries! From the first steps down the stairs leading underground, I felt the mysterious atmosphere of antiquity envelop me. This place is not just an attraction, but a living monument of history, where every stone breathes legends.
The stunning architecture of the sixth century is mesmerizing: endless rows of marble columns, illuminated by a soft golden light, are reflected in the dark water, creating mystical patterns. I was especially impressed by the columns with the heads of Medusa — mysterious and majestic, they seem to keep the secrets of Byzantine masters. Wandering along the wooden catwalks, listening to the soft lapping of the water, was incredibly meditative — as if time had stopped.
The Basilica Cistern is a place where history meets art, and reality intertwines with myths. Thank you so much for preserving such a unique heritage! If you're in Istanbul, don't miss it for anything. It's not just a "must-see," it's an experience that will stay in your memory forever. I sincerely recommend it to anyone who appreciates the beauty, the mysteries of the past and wants to touch eternity.
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November 20, 2024
One of the largest and best preserved ancient underground reservoirs in Constantinople.
A reserve of drinking water was stored in the Basilica in case of drought or siege of the city, water was delivered through aqueducts and aqueducts.
It was built in 532.
The dimensions of the underground structure are 145 × 65 m .
The vaulted ceiling of the tank is supported by 336 columns (12 rows of 28 columns) 8 meters high.
Most of the columns are taken from ancient temples, so they differ from each other in the grade of marble and the type of processing, some of them consist of one, others of two parts, two columns at the base of the head of the Gorgon Medusa (one of them is upside down, the other is turned on its side, presumably so that no one I was not afraid to turn to stone when I looked into the eyes of this monster).
You feel very small in this majestic underground structure.
Admission in the evening from 19.30 to 23:30 costs 1400 liras. I only accept lira.
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5
2
February 27
The Basilica Cistern is one of 169 cisterns preserved in the Istanbul subway. It's the biggest and they've made a museum out of it. From above, near the exit, you can see the ruins of a water tower connected to a cistern earlier in a single system.
A bit of history: during the construction of Constantinople, there was not enough fresh water nearby, and throughout the construction of the city, all the streams that ran nearby were transformed into fresh water channels into the city, but this was not enough, so cisterns were built that contained fresh water for the needs of the city. According to archaeologists, to date, the channels for fresh water supplying the cisterns of Constantinople have been dug for 126 kilometers.
The location is impressive, in the best years of the tank's operation, the water rose to 4.5 m, while the height of the column was 9.0 m.
In the present, installations have been made in the cistern, there is a part of a tree that is 6000 years old.
Separately, I would like to tell you about the concerts in the Cistern: this is incomparable to anything... We accidentally got to the concert and the combination of the volume of the museum and the sounds is indescribable.
We were with a guide who told us historical facts in a very interesting way.
If possible, visit this museum.
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1
December 15, 2024
The coolest place for me in Istanbul! Impressive! You walk between the columns and the water, catch colorful lights and take pictures, take pictures of these reflections and realities of unreal beauty!
Just "be sure" to visit.
There was a queue in the afternoon, and in the evening we went in freely. The visit does not depend on the weather and daylight - it's still underground. It is always warm, damp and beautiful there.
The acoustics are certainly excellent. We didn't check - there was no concert
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April 1
Perhaps the most famous building in Istanbul, not counting the mosque. After the Davinci Code was removed here, there are always a lot of visitors. Very beautiful lighting, wonderful interior with columns and statues. I recommend coming just before closing, then there is a chance to see all the beauty without other tourists. The only thing that upsets me is 20 thousand rubles for four people in 15 minutes.
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3
April 7
The largest tank in Istanbul costs 1,300 lire (about 3,000rubles) and an audio guide +400 lire, the whole animation for 15 minutes is not worth the money, as for me🤷♀️ The queue is slightly smaller than in Sofia))) I thought I could wander between the columns and maybe take an interesting video, but no, you can only walk along the iron flooring along the route around, the water fills the whole room with half a meter. The illumination gradually changes color, the cave effect is created. There are installations in several places, but the jellyfish on iron legs look a little shabby.
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3
February 7
An atmospheric place!!! Very impressive! If possible, be sure to check it out, preferably with an audio guide. Of course, you can find all the information on the Internet, but listening to the guide inside and at the same time feeling the space where you are is indescribable.
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1
April 15
The unique ancient underground museum is one of the city's many reservoirs. Long queues, it is better to try to purchase tickets in advance. There are many art objects inside. Very beautiful.
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3
March 9
An interesting interior historical place. It's worth visiting at least once. But the prices ... every month the price gets more expensive and now, in my opinion, it is too high - 1200 Turkish lira per person. In 20-30 minutes, that's too much. It's not worth it. Considering that this is a brick room with water and lighting. The column with the Gorgon and the fact that famous films were shot there attracts crowds of people
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1
November 25, 2024
I was in the Basilica cistern 2 times, before and after the reconstruction. For the 2nd time in 2024. November. The price before the reconstruction was quite acceptable 100-150 liras. After the reconstruction, the price was set at 900 lire. There are no discounts for children. 1 adult + 2 children cost a visit of 2700 lire, i.e. about 8500r. Actually walk through the tank for 20 minutes at most. If there were before the reconstruction, then little has changed. Actually, I think it's not worth paying 900 liras. If you haven't been before, of course you need to visit if you are in Istanbul.
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8
March 10
One of the most popular and beautiful sights of Istanbul.
The construction of the Basilica's Cistern began during the reign of Emperor Constantine I the Great in the 4th century, but it was finally completed under Justinian I in 532. It was named the "Basilica" because it was located under a large public building that was built before it and was called the basilica. When this basilica burned down during the Nika rebellion in 532, its ruins were used to build a new cistern.
Inside there are 336 columns about 9 meters high each.
The columns supported the vaulted ceiling of the interior space, which was filled with water. These columns were brought from various ancient temples and buildings.
Special attention is drawn to the two heads of the Gorgon Medusa, located at the base of two columns in one of the corners of the cistern. It is not known exactly why these heads ended up there, although there are several versions. One of them says that they were specially placed in such a way as to turn the Gorgon's gaze away from the visitors and prevent them from turning into stone.
After the fall of the Byzantine Empire and the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453, the cistern continued to be used for the water supply of the Sultan's Topkapi Palace until the middle of the 16th century. Later, it gradually fell into disrepair and was used by local residents as a storage facility or even a landfill.
The cistern has now been restored and is open to the public. They even told me on the tour that classical music concerts are held here, but I didn't find this information anywhere.
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5
April 11
Definitely worth a visit. The ticket is expensive. Young children probably won't be interested. A good souvenir shop with high-quality and stylish products, it is better to buy souvenirs there.
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March 12
I recommend you to visit. An unusual object with an interesting history and functionality. Great photos, interesting tour (we had a guide, Mahmoud, as part of a walking tour of Istanbul "What to see in Istanbul in 5 hours!")
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March 16
An incredible experience! We really liked it. It was lucky that there weren't many people, it turned out to get into the atmosphere. A grandiose structure, amazing for its time. The lighting changes beautifully, which adds mystery to the place.
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April 5
It's a very impressive place, very atmospheric, even in the heat it's pleasantly cool, the lighting is incredible, it's amazing that this place has been preserved in such a state for a long time. They say that concerts are held there, considering the acoustics, it must be incredible.
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January 31
It's just a fantastic place. It's amazing in one way. And after learning the history of this building, you really wonder at the genius of ancient civilizations. You will definitely visit Istanbul. Spare no expense on the ticket. And one more thing: Don't be fooled by guides. They ask for a lot, but there's no point. Most museums have an audio guide in Russian. The ticket price is not much more. Although in general, excursions are not very cheap. 1000 lire per person. Only the Basilica.
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January 19
In my opinion, the Basilica cannot even compare with the Topkapi Palace, despite its modest size, but considering that this structure is fifteen hundred years old, everything here is amazing. These are completely different columns, ceiling vaults, and the whole idea of the ancients for storing water. This is simply an unthinkable structure in its essence, plus an art object and a museum. The cherry on the cake is the price of a visit, as of January 25, it is quite affordable compared to the main places of attraction, such as Galata Tower, or Hagia Sophia, where you will fork out a lot. In general, a must-visit, very atmospheric and cool place.
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2
April 1
Great place! The impressions of what he saw are not transferable. The immersion in history, the architecture is excellent, the play of light makes it possible to see everything from the best side. The ticket costs 1200 lire. I definitely recommend you to visit!!!
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2
March 26
A very interesting reservoir! However, if you compare it with the palaces that you can visit every trip, I would not come to this place again)
By the way, it's better not to go there in heels, otherwise you'll have to walk the whole tour on your toes or barefoot)) attached a photo
The queue here is always long, but it moves quickly. It takes about 30 minutes to walk to the ticket office.
You can get an audio guide at the ticket counter, but you must scan the qcode from the ticket checker to receive it. It's not easy to do this if there are a lot of people))
The price in 2024 was about 3,000 rubles.
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4
November 12, 2024
The Basilica Cistern is a landmark of Istanbul, which is impossible to pass by. The place, in my opinion, is a must-visit. An underground reservoir, majestic columns, ancient engravings, marble of various grades... It's a complete mystery to me how all this was built back then... A mystical, mysterious place.
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3
March 25
Ambiguous emotions. Very expensive entrance for a 30-minute stay. Beautiful lighting. The jellyfish are in place. There are some installations. But the entrance is converted into rubles, it costs 2500-3500 rubles. However, you can walk for longer than 30 minutes, but we were in March and of course it was cool inside. It's probably nice to be there in the summer, in the heat. We didn't take an audio guide, and I don't know if it's there. Maybe that's why the impressions are not so vivid. The cistern, of which there are more than 40 in Istanbul. In general, I do not regret that I went, but I would not have come a second time)
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May 2
The Basilica cistern immerses you in the mysterious atmosphere of the underworld with its endless rows of antique columns reflected in the dark water. The sound of drops, the muffled echo of footsteps and the mysterious heads of Medusa at the base of the columns seem to be transported back to the Byzantine era, which holds centuries-old secrets. This place is not just an engineering masterpiece of antiquity, but a mystical portal where history and legends are intertwined into a single, fascinating plot.
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April 20
I really like all kinds of underground spaces, and I liked that too. You can cool off from the heat by looking at the different columns... the only negative is that there are a lot of tourists and it's noisy. I recommend visiting the place during the non-tourist season, then you will most likely be able to listen to the drops falling from above)))
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February 2
A magical historical place in Istanbul. A must-see, especially if you've read Dan Brown's Inferno. Or at least watch the movie :)
TIP: there are long queues at the entrance during high season. Smart guys will approach you and offer to get through faster for the money. The queue is moving fast, so I don't recommend it.
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4
November 30, 2024
I've always wanted to come here. The price is about 1000 liras, if you buy directly at the checkout, through the app the price is 2-3 times lower. The cistern is a monumental structure, but if you don't read the story in advance, or without a guide. then the experience will be disappointing. There are two queues at the entrance: those who buy a ticket on the spot, and those who bought through an agency or an application. Both queues move quickly, but there are a lot of people, so it's better to come on weekdays. Inside, everything is arranged in such a way that it is not possible to step aside
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April 10
The visit is for 15-20 minutes, but the price of 650 lire versus 1,300 for a tank of Theodosius is really more than reasonable. They are playing video installations on walls and columns.
But quite abstract (flowers, butterflies, views of Istanbul).
I would like to see historical footage of the use of this tank.
If you want to get cheaper, then go to a small free cistern in the central park next to the Topkapi Palace.
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January 21
Mysterious and majestic, it smells of history ☺️
As in any tourist destination, there are a lot of people, it's noisy, but the impression is still wonderful.We were guided by a guide, so we didn't wait long, but the queue at the entrance is quite long.
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December 20, 2024
An amazing place! It impresses with its architecture, engineering, scale, atmosphere, and grandeur. It's hard to imagine that this ancient underground reservoir, the construction of which began in the 4th century, was built by humans! And it has been preserved in this form ever since!
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3
January 16
A grandiose place, impressive, fascinating with its beauty and unreality.It feels like you're entering another dimension, everything is as mysterious and magical as in the movies.I definitely recommend it.
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January 25
I visited the Basilica Cistern in December 2024. But even during this period it was quite crowded.
I took this tour as part of a tour, so I can't say exactly how much it cost me. If you just want to visit this Cistern without using a tourist card or as part of an excursion tour, the ticket will cost 800 lire per adult and 600 lire per child.
Now about the Tank itself)
Certainly one of the grandiose and large-scale buildings of the Byzantine Empire period. Being inside is breathtaking. It is impossible to believe that this structure is the work of man. There is practically no water in it now, but circles are still visible on the huge columns, indicating the water level that was in the past.
Beautiful lighting adds mystique to this place. There are many modern installations in the Cistern: the Gorgoga jellyfish, a family of ordinary jellyfish, and glowing geometric shapes.
Overall, the place is worth a visit.
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March 26
The Basilica cistern impresses with its majestic architecture and atmosphere, creating a sense of time travel. The unique columns and heads of the Gorgon Medusa add mystery to this place. In a word, delight, I recommend
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April 4
A grandiose and unique antique building. A must-visit. It's amazing that after thousands of years it works as it was intended. It's also suitable for those who like to take great photos.
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February 26
It's a very interesting and unusual place. It's beautifully decorated, there's lighting everywhere, and there are beautiful statues. Tickets with an audio guide are 1000 lire per person. The audio guide is downloaded on your mobile phone via your local Wi-Fi.
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4
April 5
The entrance was moved lower along the tram tracks. An eternal crowd of people trying to get inside. It doesn't get better to queue, but to get closer and it becomes clear that everyone is standing in the wrong place, and you can get in a shorter queue right at the checkout.
There have been no huge fish inside for a long time, which were fed under the light of lanterns, the water is empty and only works by local artists stick out in some places.
However, the charm of the ancient cistern has not gone away. The column of 1000 eyes is still crying, the Medusa's head is still looking at the world sideways.
I also advise you to visit the cisterns around it for comparison.
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April 6
It's amazing to touch such antiquity! It's very convenient to walk inside, and the photo locations are great! On the downside: a very expensive entrance ticket(
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3