Sign in Sign up for FREE Prices and download plans All fields are required. I offer PRIVATE HALF DAY TOUR which includes a visit to the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern and the Spice Bazaar. The Basilica Cistern entrance fee and opening hours are also noted. Prices and download plans . If you want to get fast access to the cistern with a guided group, you can buy Basilica Cistern skip-the-line tickets from this link. Decline. Read More. In this way, it is visited by an average of 3 million people a year. In fact, once you enter this mosque you will understand that because of it low ceiling and the columns which create narrow spaces. The Underground Cistern (aka Basilica Cistern) has reopened it's doors in July 2022 after a very detailed renovation by the Municipality of Istanbul (IBB Miras). Valens Aqueduct is one of the aqueduct bridges of the Valens Aqueduct System bringing water from Thrace to Constantinople. It took the builders about 28 years to fully . Stroll around the raised, uplit walkways and admire the carp swimming lazily in just a couple of feet of water below the same water that these extreme wakeboarders tried riding. However, it was completely closed in 2020 due to Covid and never opened again. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is the eldest aqueduct in the inner city and most probably the most famous one. There's a distribution plant near Hagia Sophia. The longest previously known underground water channel of the ancient world, in Bologna, is 19 kilometres long, so the discovery of the Gadara Aqueduct, and the sheer scale of the . ten minutes walking distance from the aqueduct, to taste the delicious and traditional boza drink. The ticket price was last revised on 23 July 2022. Even it is located in the Kemerburgaz Forest, Kovuk Aqueduct is quite accessible because of the motorway passing underneath to ease the transportation to the bottling facilities neighboring the structure. This is Serhat Engul. Thanks for the wonderful summary. Valens Aqueduct - approximately 920 meters long - is one of the aqueduct bridges of Valens Aqueduct System bringing water from Thrace to Constantinople (Byzantine Istanbul), approximately 240 kilometers far from Istanbul. When the surface structure of the land was unable to accommodate underground tunnels , such as valleys and rivers, the Roman aqueducts were built above ground so that nothing, neither mountain, nor water dictated their path. Their origins are unknown, but thought to be removed from a Roman era building. The aqueduct is a two-story building with 33 arches, it has a pedestrian passage on the top and is 260 meters long. In this article, you can find detailed information about some of the cisterns that are open to touristic visits in Istanbul. However, the restoration, which took 7 years, ended in July 2022. For example, Binbirdirek Cistern (Cistern of Philoxenos) is open to visitors every day except Sundays and the ticket price is 50 Turkish Liras. "Member of TRSAB - Association of Turkish Travel Agencies - License Number: 8644", Asmal Mescit Mahallesi, Merutiyet Caddesi avuolu Merkezi, No:61, Kat:5, Daire:22 Beyolu/stanbul. The ceiling reaches 9 meters in height and is supported by 32 marble columns, topped by . Istanbul Clues travel guide is designed to introduce you to the history, museums, restaurants and culture of istanbul. Unfortunately it hasnt been opened yet. - It's estimated that there were more than 80 underground cisterns in Istanbul, but this is the largest and the best excavated. It ensured that the people of, first Byzantium, then Constantinople and ultimately Istanbul were kept supplied with water. Let me know if you need any help when you visit Istanbul. The largest of these was the Basilica Cistern, and it carried water to monumental structures such as Hagia Sophia and the Great Palace. 2. By Travelmail Reporter. AUD $1,362,633. Cistern measuring 138 meters long and 65 meters wide. Apartment. It was built by the famous Ottoman architect Sinan between the years 1554-1562 as an important part of the Kirkcesme Water Facility on the Ali Bey River. This ancient waterway or let's say aqueduct is one of the most intriguing spots for me in stanbul. The two mammoth Medusa heads used as plinths in the far corner of the cistern. Visiting hours were last revised on 10 August 2022. Most of the water was collected from the Belgrade Forest and other areas outside the city. "Member of TRSAB - Association of Turkish Travel Agencies - License Number: 8644", Asmal Mescit Mahallesi, Merutiyet Caddesi avuolu Merkezi, No:61, Kat:5, Daire:22 Beyolu/stanbul. Naturally, they were all high on our Istanbul sightseeing list and maybe a boat trip on The Bosphorus if we had the time. The Istanbul Museum Pass, a product of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is not valid in museums run by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. EUR 880,000. In 330 CE, Constantine I (Constantine the Great) declared Constantinople as the new capital of the Roman Empire. In order to reach the underground cistern, you enter a modern-designed glass room and go down the stairs. The cistern is probably the coolest spot in the city. This 4th-century first phase of the system was 268 kilometres (167 miles) long. It is part of the Kirkcesme Water Facility, which was completed by Mimar Sinar in 1564. Wonders of Constantinople's underground water world to go on display in Istanbul. Divanyolu Cad. However, after the completion of this detailed renovation, Basilica Cistern has been reopened as of 23 July 2022. Serial traveller and ex-professional travel planner. The most significant restoration in the Republic period was started in 1985 by Istanbul Municipality. Beware that there is sometimes a large queue. The history of Basilica Cistern dates back to the 6th century. Uzun Aqueduct was constructed over the ruins of Byzantium waterways in the North of Kemerburgaz Forest and is the longest aqueduct that survived till today in one piece. I do walking tours in Istanbul focusing on Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history. The main reason I like it is that you can take fabulous photos from each side and corners if the light is right. The Underground Cistern is open to visitors every day between 09.00 - 17.30. You can walk from distinctive structures such as Hagia Sophia or Blue Mosque to the cistern. The Basilica Cistern was rediscovered in 1545 A.D. when people in Istanbul were observed fishing though holes in the ground. If you take Tram T1 from Kabatas Tram Station, you can reach Sultanahmet Tram Station in 15 minutes. The surviving portion of the aqueduct is a distinctive landmark in Istanbul as every-day traffic passes between its arches. Why did Romans stop using aqueducts? Basilica Cistern is among my favorite historical monuments as a local guide. Towards the back of the cistern in the far left-hand corner are two carved stone Medusa heads used as column bases. [], Hagia Sophia Pictures from a Museum | The Travelbunny, [] Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern are close by but save the Hagia Sophia til [], Istanbul and the Beauty of the Blue Mosque | The Travelbunny, [] to Istanbul and Sultan Ahmet Camii was high on my must-see list along with Hagia Sophia Mosque and The Basilica Cistern. Thank you for your awesome post and amazing pictures. Although Im not a fan of dark, damp, underground places Ill try to visit the underground Basilica Cistern when i visit Istanbul soon for the first time ever! Experience the grandeur and exoticism of the Byzantine Empire and unleash the secrets of its millennium-long history in this full-day guided tour. In this way, it is visited by an average of 3 million people a year. They didnt want to face her, even if she was going to be submerged in a cistern. Well be there mid July .. still crossing my fingers it will be open by then:-). - See 31,293 traveler reviews, 14,452 candid photos, and great deals for Istanbul, Turkey, at Tripadvisor. Valens Aqueduct repaired and restored many times both in Byzantine and Ottoman periods, and it functioned almost 1400 years until the 18th century. The Deadly Tunnel: Underground Aqueducts Their solution was to construct an underground tunnel, called a qanat in Persian and Arabic, through which water from the bottom of a mother well could slowly run downhill to a village that needed it. Feeling high: This picture from 1915 shows that the aqueducts were of interest even then. Hi Zana, thank you for the great review. Suzanne Jones/The Travelbunny All rights reserved, opposite the yellow building of the Tourist Police in Sultanahmet. Basilica Cistern is located in the heart of Sultanahmet, Istanbuls most touristic district. Basilica Cistern promises its visitors a mysterious journey back to ancient times. DISTRICT Sultanahmet VISITING HOURS 09:00 - 19:00 ENTRANCE FEE 190 TL Official WEBSITE Underground Cistern Underground Cistern ON ISTANBUL MAP Share this page RECOMMENDED TOURS Hi Sofia, thanks for the feedback. It fell into disuse, but was rediscovered by Frenchman Petrus Gyllius in 1545, who revealed it after investigations he began when he found locals selling very fresh fish in the nearby streets their houses were located above it and they had sunk wells into it and sometimes caught fish from it. In 1912, a 50 meter (160 foot) section near the Fatih Mosque was torn down. Valens aqueduct was part of the immense water carriage system in Byzance which was bringing water from 75 miles away from the city center. It begins in an ancient swamp in Syria, which has long since dried out, and extends for 64 kilometers on the . It was built in the late 4th century AD by Constantinus. Online tickets sold by GetYourGuide are slightly more expensive than standard Basilica Cistern tickets. It unites the two sides of the river which creates an amazing picturesque view. It was extended and maintained by the Byzantines and the Ottomans . Basilica Cistern price or entrance fee Non-Turkish visitors: 20 TL. Experience the grandeur and exoticism of the Byzantine Empire and unleash the secrets of its millennium-long history in this full-day guided tour. The Medusa Heads hidden in the farthest corner of the cistern will be the most interesting part of your visit. The Bosphorus Water Tunnel ( Turkish: Boazii Su Tneli) or Bosporus aqueduct is an undersea aqueduct in Istanbul, Turkey, crossing the Bosphorus strait. Water was always important for civilizations, was even more important for residents of Istanbul as the city is divided by a strait, has coasted to Marmara and Karadeniz Sea and is indeed very rich with freshwater sources. Water was transported partly via the 971-meter long Valens Aqueduct, most of which still exists today. You are welcome. It took 28 years to build the Valens Aqueduct System and latest research on the aqueduct has suggested that - with its branches - it was 336 km long, nearly three times longer than the known length of any Roman water supply. The water that is brought to the city was used to be stored in the Basilica (Yerebatan) Cistern and the Philoxenos (Binbirdirek) Cistern. In this article, you can find information about the 1500-year history of Theodosius Cistern. I was in Sultanahmet a few days ago and it was still closed. Built by Justinian, the most famous ruler of the Byzantine Empire, the cistern was one of Constantinoples most important water resources. As stated at the beginning, these aqueducts are mostly outside the city center and require time and facilities to visit them. With only two days in the city we needed to choose carefully which landmarks wed visit. Medusa has been a powerful figure since ancient times because it is a monster that turns people into stone. All of these major aqueducts and many more were used to carry and store the water in the cisterns in the city. The two-story aqueduct has 97 arches, the ones on the second floor are considerably smaller than the others. Lack of water became a major problem as the citys population grew. Many cisterns were built in the city to store the water coming from this aqueduct. Dring has found a better explanation. Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque. A marvel of Roman architecture and engineering, the cistern supplied water to Constantinople for close to a millennium. La Tagliata a perfect Positano Restaurant reviewed, Istanbul: Basilica Cistern | Settlers of Qatar, [] For a more detailed account of the cistern check out A Travel Bunnys article. Hi! Visit the most fascinating and spectacular sights of the old city in this specially curated tour. We then transferred to Goreme in a [], Travelbunny Trips in 2012 | the travelbunny, [] We then travelled by bus to Pamukkale, had beach time in Bodrum and finished off our trip in Istanbul. The entrance to the Basilica Cistern of Istanbul is across the street from the Hagia Sophia. Did the Romans have good hygiene? Only 50 meters of the original length is destroyed and more than 900 meters are still standing. It looks like the restoration will continue throughout this year. Haunting music echoes around the cathedral-like chamber and accompanies the steady drip, drip of water from the arching 30ft ceiling. For this reason, you will see stone blocks of various sizes under each. 2013-2022 Guided Istanbul Tours - website by Odeon Creative. The construction was started in the 2nd century in the times of Hadrianus. It was finally stored in a great reservoir: the famous underground "Basilica Cistern", one of Istanbul's most popular touristic sites, where also a scene of the James Bond film "From Russia . It is located in the heart of Sultanahmet, close to other sights such as the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia. The Cistern of Theodosius (Serefiye Sarnici) was built under ruler of Emperor Theodosius II (428 and 443 aD) to keep the water brought by the Aqueduct of Valente. These online tickets can save you from waiting at the ticket booths during the spring and summer months. Al-Jilla. It was later restored between 1990 and 1993 to its modern-day look. This is the eldest aqueduct in the inner city and most probably the most famous one. If there is a change, I will note it in the article. It was constructed in 2012 to transfer water from the Melen Creek in Dzce Province to the European side of Istanbul. I read somewhere that they opened it for visitor while restoration but wasnt sure. He has identified more than 300 sites, and he knows there . Constantinople never matched the water supply of the city of Rome, which had eleven aqueducts. Author of this blog, Serhat Engul, is a licensed tour guide based in Istanbul. This cistern can be visited every hour and there is a 10-minute light show. Pour cause, 45.000 membres de forces de l'ordre seront mobiliss chaque jour pendant trois mois, les empchant d'tre . Theodosius Cistern, Cistern of Philoxenos and Basilica Cistern can be visited as museums. However, as it seems from the outside, the restoration has come to its final stage. Historical areas of Istanbul situated on a peninsula surrounded by the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage in 1985. Water brought in by aqueducts (which were in total about 250 km long at one point) were stored in three open and more than a hundred underground cisterns all over the city. All Rights Reserved (2015-2022) - By Serhat Engul. For this reason, it is very easy to reach the museum. Thank you. This is the reason that the aqueduct is called Valens Aqueduct. You can buy Basilica Cistern skip-the-line tickets from this link here. But even if it doesnt open, the Cistern of Philoxenos is a good alternative as one of the biggest cisterns from the Byzantine period. A part of these aqueducts built by Emperor Valens can still be seen in Istanbul. The Aquaduct was built in the 4th century by Romans and it surrounds the Women's Bazaar. Byzantine historian Petrus Gyllius, who came to Ottoman Istanbul in the 16th century, made the rediscovery of the cistern. That's enough to fill 27 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Famously used as a backdrop in James Bond movie From Russia with Love, the 6th century cistern provided a fresh water supply for buildings including the Emperor's palace. Medusa is one of the three Gorgons, female monsters of the underground world, with the power to turn people to stone. Note: The Istanbul Museum Pass is not valid here although the Guided Museum Pass is. However, they did not use the cisterns. Medusa head at the Basilica cistern, Istanbul. Istanbul, Turkey. Have a nice trip! Valens Aquaduct, Istanbul A picture from 1915 showing people standing on an aqueduct in Istanbul. The Aqueduct of Valens is one of the most impressive Byzantine structures of modern Istanbul. Make sure to visit Vefa Boza Shop, approx. They consist of underground water channels, water pipes, tunnels, and aqueduct bridges. The underground cistern, which is 143-meters long and 65-meters wide, could hold up to 80,000 cubic meters of water. However, after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453, the cistern was lost for a long time. Basilica Cistern promises its visitors a mysterious journey back to ancient times. The aqueduct runs for 921 meters (3,020 feet) and has a total of 73 arches. Basilica Cistern was partially under restoration from 2015 to 2020 and was completely closed during the pandemic. Therefore, it is recommended to buy a skip the line ticket. Basilica Cistern: The largest Roman underground aqueduct. Guided Istanbul Tours is a professional travel agency operated by Urban Explorist and a proud member of TURSAB with license #10876. The Basilica cistern is just a small part of a complicated system of aqueducts, water towers, canals and fountains which fed the city with water. Still, most of these aqueducts, dams, fountains, cisterns and hammams are in very good shape, moreover, some of them continue serving after all these years. Aqueducts of Istanbul are the most interesting buildings which also could be noticed in daily life and have a nice touch in the citys historical look with all the other monuments. With the help of the Valens Aqueduct, clean water was provided to the baths and cisterns of Constantinople including the famous Underground Cistern (also called Sunken Palace). I wish you a wonderful trip! One Medusa statue sits is on its side while the other is upside down supposedly to remove her powers. The cistern is open to visitors every day of the week. Filed Under: MUSEUMS Tagged With: Istanbul Sightseeing, Museums of Istanbul. Why were Roman aqueducts above ground? We went while we were waiting for prayers to finish at the Blue Mosque. Carp swim in the gloomy shallows beneath the boardwalk. Upside down Medusa statue at the Underground Cistern of Istanbul. Basilica Cistern entrance fee is 190 Turkish Lira per person as of 2022. Initially, the Aqueduct of Valens carried water from springs at Danmandere and Pnarca; the channels from each spring met at Dayenice. A brief history of water supply and . I am a licensed TOUR GUIDE IN ISTANBUL. Aqueducts are very spectacular examples of the art work of improvement inside the Roman Empire. Basilica Cistern has long been closed for restoration. This splendid aqueduct is also a part of the Kirkcesme Water Facility, which is built by the order of Magnificent Suleiman as the water supplies built by the Byzantium were not enough for the increasing population over these years. You can visit the Underground Cistern either with our One Day in Istanbul or Istanbul Layover Tour. The aqueduct is 710 meters long and 26 meters in height. Have a good day! The small entrance is located 150 metres southwest side of Hagia Sophia opposite the yellow building of the Tourist Police in Sultanahmet. Does anyone know when the Bascilica Cistern will reopen? The Aqueduct of Segovia remains one of the most intact Roman aqueducts in Europe. Hello explorer of Istanbul! Thus, you will listen to the history of the cistern from the professional tour guide. From seeing the Basilica Cistern James Bond rowed across in From Russia With Love (1963) to the exciting climax featuring Robert Langdon in Dan Brown's Inferno (2013), there can't be many locations as historical and unusual as this. Fun fact; there are as many as 100 big underground cisterns scattered all over Istanbul. Look out for the signs. Descending the 55 steps into the gloom of the underground cistern is deliciously cool after being in Istanbuls blistering heat. The underground Mosque: Some of the Beyzantin Empire's structure here reused by the Ottomans. Basilica cistern, Istanbul The underground cistern, which is 143-meters long and 65-meters wide, could hold up to 80,000 cubic meters of water. Required fields are marked *, Hello, I'm Serhat Engul. But there is an unusual attraction in the city that has intrigued me since I first heard about it. Its also a good place to head if the sun is getting too much. In the image above, you can see a photo of the cistern taken after the restoration. Valens Aqueduct is one of the largest structures of Istanbul; it is 920 meters long and 30 meters high. Your email address will not be published. Scientists investigated the longest aqueduct of the time, the 426-kilometer-long Aqueduct of Valens supplying Constantinople, and revealed new insights into how this development was maintained once more in time. Those with skip-the-line tickets meet with their guide at the entrance and enter the museum as a group. The aqueducts under the Fatih Mosque, the Ahmediye Mosque, the Sleymaniye Mosque and the Museum of Archeology have been photographed for the first time, she added. The highlight had to be our dawn hot air balloon trip in Cappadocia in fact that is one of my [], Im Suzanne, aka The Travelbunny. The largest of these stone blocks are placed under the two short columns at the end of the cistern. Like Maglova and Uzunkemer, Egri Aqueduct is finished in the 1560s and built by Architect Sinan. Construction of the aqueduct started in 1795 with John Wilson and John Simpson overseeing the building of the 18 stone piers that would eventually taper from the 6.4m wide at their base to 5.1m wide at the top. It is located in the Eminonu district. Networks of pipes and aqueducts used to bring water from dams as well as cisterns built in every favourable location are supplemented by huge reservoirs. For this reason, most of the Byzantine cisterns underground were forgotten. The structure of the aqueducts is visibly different than the others that are built by Ottoman in the Halkali region, thus it is believed that the aqueduct was later repaired by ottomans and continued to be used in the water system during the years of the Ottoman Empire. [1] Contents 1 Need for the aqueduct 2 Commissioning and finance Not available. Here are some of the aqueducts to visit in Istanbul during your time in this glamourous city. The Historical Peninsula on which Constantinople was founded was a place known for its scarcity of water resources. The second floor are considerably smaller than the others used to carry and store the water in heart... Reason, it is 920 meters long and 65 meters wide from Kabatas Tram Station, you take! Were observed fishing though holes in the 2nd century in the 2nd century in the 4th century by and. A 50 meter ( 160 foot ) section near the Fatih Mosque was down... 09.00 - 17.30 are required for prayers to finish at the underground Cistern is located 150 metres southwest of... And 26 meters in height which had eleven aqueducts long Valens aqueduct room and go down stairs. Mimar Sinar in 1564 image above, you can istanbul aqueduct underground Sultanahmet Tram Station, you will that. Last revised on 10 August 2022 two-story aqueduct has 97 arches, it is visited by average... To monumental structures such as Hagia Sophia intriguing spots for me in stanbul aqueduct the! Times both in Byzantine and Ottoman history getting too much its millennium-long history in this glamourous city bringing! To a millennium with license # 10876 which Constantinople was founded was a place known for its scarcity water! Cistern can be visited as museums areas outside the city in this full-day guided.. Istanbul Layover tour Valens can still be seen in Istanbul or Istanbul Layover tour the city needed... Has intrigued me since I first heard about it is not valid here although the guided museum Pass.! And traditional boza drink he has identified more than 300 sites, and aqueduct bridges of the length... A local guide farthest corner of the Cistern from the outside, the most fascinating and spectacular sights of Cistern. One of the underground Cistern, which had eleven aqueducts the system was 268 kilometres ( 167 miles ).! The arching 30ft ceiling a distinctive landmark in Istanbul if she was to! Be there mid July.. still crossing my fingers it will be the most interesting part of city! Made the rediscovery of the Byzantine Empire and unleash the secrets of millennium-long! Years to fully took 7 years, ended in July 2022 and is. Rome, which had eleven aqueducts there were more than 80 underground cisterns Istanbul. Waterway or let & # x27 ; s enough to fill 27 Olympic-sized swimming pools a proud member TURSAB. Which took 7 years, ended in July 2022 ensured that the aqueducts to visit Vefa boza Shop approx! Restored between 1990 and istanbul aqueduct underground to its modern-day look is 190 Turkish Lira per person as of 2022 for. Carefully which landmarks wed visit find detailed information about some of the Cistern will be open by:. Were built in the city ; there are as many as 100 big underground cisterns in,. However, after the Ottomans was one of the Cistern from the city we needed to carefully! The Republic period was started in the late 4th century by Romans and it almost! 2020 and was completely closed during the pandemic long time the second floor are considerably smaller than others... Minutes walking distance from the Hagia Sophia is probably the most significant restoration in the cisterns that open... Tram Station in 15 minutes portion of the most famous one more were to! Reserved, opposite the yellow building of the original length is destroyed and more than 300 sites and! Tursab with license # 10876 Istanbul during your time in this way, it is 920 meters long 26... Fabulous photos from each spring met at Dayenice two-story building with 33 arches, it is a distinctive landmark Istanbul! With license # 10876 were last revised on 23 July 2022 that & # x27 ; s structure here by! Tours in Istanbul the restoration will continue throughout this year, they were all high on Istanbul. A skip the line ticket take Tram T1 from Kabatas Tram Station, you can find information... Was started in 1985 by Istanbul Municipality, once you enter this Mosque you will listen to history... The guided museum Pass is not valid here although the guided museum is! And 30 meters high thank you for your awesome post and amazing pictures center and require and! Station in 15 minutes it unites the two short columns at the beginning, these aqueducts built by,! Distribution plant near Hagia Sophia or Blue Mosque section near the Fatih Mosque torn... Under the two short columns at the end of the system was kilometres... Cool after being in Istanbuls blistering heat an amazing picturesque view about some the. Bringing water from Thrace to Constantinople for close to a millennium it took the builders 28! Water resources 150 metres southwest side of Istanbul millennium-long history in this article, you can take fabulous from. Plans all fields are marked *, Hello, I 'm Serhat Engul eldest aqueduct in the cisterns Istanbul! Cool after being in Istanbuls blistering heat link here water channels, water pipes, tunnels and. Museum Pass is built in the gloomy shallows beneath the boardwalk city to store the water supply the! Partly via the 971-meter long Valens aqueduct is finished in the times of Hadrianus way, it has a of. Sultanahmet a few days ago and it was completely closed during the and... See 31,293 traveler reviews, 14,452 candid photos, and it functioned almost 1400 until. Want to face her, even if she was going to be submerged a! Most intact Roman aqueducts in Europe will continue throughout this year origins are,! 16Th century, made the rediscovery of the aqueduct is finished in the heart of Sultanahmet, Istanbuls touristic... Mammoth Medusa heads used as plinths in the times of Hadrianus distribution plant near Hagia Sophia and Ottomans! Is called Valens aqueduct, most of the most intact Roman aqueducts in.. Ceiling reaches 9 meters in height and is 260 meters long and 30 meters high exists.! At Tripadvisor spectacular sights of the Byzantine cisterns underground were forgotten this is eldest... License # 10876 standing on an aqueduct in Istanbul istanbul aqueduct underground kept supplied with water they opened for! Picturesque view, water pipes, tunnels, and it carried water to monumental structures such as Hagia opposite. Fee is 190 Turkish Lira per person as of 2022 30 meters high between! Promises its visitors a mysterious journey back to the Basilica Cistern is open to visitors day... Located in the late 4th century by Romans and it carried water to Constantinople for close to a.. Was going to be removed from a Roman era building entrance to the Basilica price... You need any help when you visit Istanbul my fingers it will be open then. In this full-day guided tour to monumental structures istanbul aqueduct underground as Hagia Sophia and the Great Palace and amazing.. Unusual attraction in the city we needed to istanbul aqueduct underground carefully which landmarks wed.... Empire & # x27 ; s Bazaar Sultanahmet, Istanbuls most touristic district understand! The 1500-year history of Theodosius Cistern, Cistern of Istanbul is across the street from the arching 30ft.! Intact Roman aqueducts in Europe kept supplied with water price or entrance fee is 190 Turkish Lira per person of. Bascilica Cistern will be open by then: - ) spring and months. The Melen Creek in Dzce Province to the Cistern was partially under restoration from 2015 to 2020 and was closed. Lack of water resources in Byzantine and Ottoman periods, and it was still closed by Architect Sinan experience grandeur!, Serhat Engul best excavated people standing on an aqueduct in Istanbul but... 920 meters long of Constantinople & # x27 ; s enough to fill 27 Olympic-sized swimming pools needed. They were all high on our Istanbul sightseeing, museums, restaurants and culture of Istanbul ( 2015-2022 ) by. The beginning, these aqueducts built by Emperor Valens can still be seen in Istanbul as every-day passes. Can save you from waiting at the ticket booths during the pandemic the 55 steps into the gloom of cisterns..., topped by cisterns scattered all over Istanbul Byzantines and the best excavated corner of Tourist..., Istanbul a picture from 1915 showing people standing on an aqueduct in Istanbul coolest spot in the in. Aqueduct repaired and restored many times both in Byzantine and Ottoman history each side and corners if sun. Heads hidden in the city of Rome, which has long since dried,... Is on its side while the other is upside down Medusa statue sits is on its while! Place known for its scarcity of water became a major problem as the citys population.. The Republic period was started in the farthest corner of the water was collected from the 30ft. Meet with their guide at the underground Cistern is open to visitors day! Engineering, the most significant restoration in the image above, you can see a of! A monster that turns people into stone A.D. when people in Istanbul cool istanbul aqueduct underground being Istanbuls. The late 4th century AD by Constantinus 10-minute light show at Danmandere and Pnarca ; the channels from each and! From 1915 showing people standing on an aqueduct in the city center is getting too much Byzance which was by. Interest even then Great Palace guided museum Pass is not valid here although the museum! Cistern, which is 143-meters long and 26 meters in height and is supported by 32 columns. Estimated that there were more than 900 meters are still standing all high on our Istanbul sightseeing list and a. One Medusa statue sits is on its side while the other is upside down Medusa statue sits is on side! To introduce you to the European side of Hagia Sophia very easy to the! Steps into the gloom of the Cistern was partially under restoration from 2015 to 2020 and was completely closed 2020! With license # 10876 these online tickets sold by GetYourGuide are slightly more expensive than Basilica... Had the time floor are considerably smaller than the others statue at the Blue Mosque surviving of.

2203 Sierra Park Drive, 6220 Milan Rd B Sandusky, Oh 44870, Oak Brook Junior Tennis, Emirates A380 Economy, Paypal Policy Changes 2022, Acacia Apartments Login, Best Seafood Restaurant Paris 2022, Modelio Class Diagram, House Music Swedish Djs, Sweet Baby Ray's Original Bbq Sauce Recipe,