Native name: Yerebatan Sarayı
Basilica cistern is located south west of Hagia Sophia on the historical peninsula of Sarayburnu. The entrance of Basilica Cistern is the small structure located right across the Tourist Police Station. The structure that was built in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that were built beneath the city of Constantinople during the Byzantine empire. The underground structure measures about 140m x 70m and has a cross vaulted ceiling that is carried on a forest of 336 columns rising 9m high. The cistern was capable in ancient times of storing 80,000 cubic meters of water which was brought from outside the city through water arcs and channels.
Restoration works of Basilica cistern took place ...
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