Az Guidebook: Yerebatan Cistern Inwards Istanbul

Y is for Yerebatan Saray Sarnıçı inward Istanbul

Hidden beneath the historical expanse of Sultanahmet inward Istanbul is i of my favorite sites to present visitors, particularly during the hot summertime months.

After walking downward a few flights of somewhat slippery steps, you’ll discovery yourself inward what is usually known equally the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıç inward Turkish) because it lays beneath the Stoa Basilica, a grand Byzantine world square. The cistern also is called the Sunken Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Saray Sarnıçı) because of its gorgeous 336 Byzantine marble columns as well as impressive size – nearly 9,800 foursquare meters (2.4 acres)!

Did you lot know that tonight bedchamber has the capacity to concur close 80,000 cubic meters of H2O (21 i yard one thousand U.S.A. gallons) of water?

In fact, when Istanbul was Constantinople, hundreds of Byzantine cisterns were located underneath the onetime metropolis as well as were used to shop fresh water. The Ottomans used the Yerebatan to provide fresh H2O to the Topkapı Palace. You tin all the same discovery a few cisterns around Sultanahmet that are used inward restaurants or but forgotten about.

The Yerebatan Cistern is the perfect retreat from Istanbul’s sweltering summertime days. The cavernous room is cool as well as dark, lit alone yesteryear lights along the elevated pathway as well as to illuminate some of the columns. Water droplets of condensation autumn downward on you lot equally you’re exploring this hush-hush treasure.

I also ever imagined that the cistern would hold upwards the perfect place to fill upwards a horror painting present equally well!

Did you lot that i of the onetime James Bond movies was filmed inward the cistern? Not equally good long ago, I had to rewatch From Russian Federation With Love particularly the scene when Bond is seen rowing a pocket-size boat betwixt the cistern’s columns?

When you lot see the Yerebatan Cistern, don’t forget to hold off for the mysterious Medusa-like caput equally well!

I’m linking this post to the monthly A-Z locomote direct link upwards organized yesteryear Fiona, a boyfriend Australian blogger, at Tiffin Bite Sized Food Adventures. Each calendar month features a novel missive of the alphabet of the alphabet. This calendar month is the missive of the alphabet “Y.” Please popular on over to Fiona’s weblog to read to a greater extent than locomote stories or experience gratuitous to link upwards your own!