YEREBATAN SARAYI | Basilica Cistern. The Palace that was once forgotten.   

Yerebatan Sarayi means as the Sunken Palace. This is the grandest underground cistern that showcases the remains of the Romans. Now, this is one of the major attractions in Turkey.

Yerebatan Sarayi has a vast underground storage tank built by Constantine the Great during the 4th century. And in the 6th century, it was expanded by Justinian. For most of the Ottomans, the cistern only served as a well and a fishing hole for the locals which are now the Sultan Ahmet.

In 1453, the cistern was mostly taken for granted after the fall of the Byzantine Empire. It became a muddy hollow ruin until it was cleaned up and opened to the public in 1987.

The cistern is now a must see tourist attractions that offers a cool let-up from the Istanbul’s sweltering summer heat. The beating lights, water drenching from the ceiling and the strange music played on a very well placed speakers tote up an air of mystery to the place. Here, you can see 336 columns and approximately 12 inches of water on the floor.

Many of these columns were mismatched and look to have been pinched from elsewhere. Wooden planks are placed so that the visitors can walk among the columns because of some of which are very pleasing to the eye due to its decoration carved on it. One of the famous sights in the cistern is the pedestal with two Medusa heads engraved into it. One of the heads is on its side while the other one is inverted. The purpose of these heads that give supports to the columns on the north side of the cistern is still a mystery.

Yerebatan Sarayi is a cathedral sized underground cistern which is 143 by 65 meters and it is capable of holding up to 80,000 cubic meters of water. The huge space was broken up by 336 marble columns each is 9 meters in height. Two of these columns based on a recycled blocks carved with the head of Medusa. Another well known supporting pillars found in the cistern is the column of tears because it has been carved with symbols similar to tears.

You can also find ad hoc ponds of goldfish throughout the cistern that keeps the water clean and aerated.

The cistern is situated on the historical peninsula of Istanbul that was surrounded by a firebrick wall and covered with a special mortar providing insulation against water. The water coming from the cistern was supplied from the Belgrade Woods which rest about 19km north of the city through canals constructed by Emperor Justinianus. The water from the cistern is collected rain water.

Istanbul is one of the most often hemmed cities in the world that needs a stable supply of water thus; many underground cisterns were built during the Byzantine Empire. Water from these cisterns was brought from far away sources through aqueducts. Some of these cisterns were not used properly because some of the Turks now preferred to use fresh running water after capturing the city from the Byzantines. Most of these cisterns turned into bazaars or store houses but the Yerebatan Sarayi remains its beauty and grandness.

Yerebatan is located in Sultan Ahmet Square, at the end of northeastern of Hippodrome and across the street of the Hagia Sophia. Your tour in the cistern can take from 30 minutes up to an hour and there’s a minimal admission fee. And if you are not in a hurry, you can stay and relax while sipping a cup of apple tea from a tulip shape cup in a small café that provides a pleasant and peaceful spot amid in the hustle and bustle of Istanbul.

The simple and plain entrance of the Yerabatan Sarayi gives the lie to the wonders that you can find beneath the cistern. The mystery of the Sunken Palace gives its visitors excitement discoveries of its grace encircled with ancient and relapsing city walls. The place is filled with infectious vibrant energy and mystery under the surface of the modern city. This place should be on your lists in places that you must not forget to visit when you are in Istanbul.