Basilica Reservoir is one of the attractions of Istanbul, which attracts many tourists every year. Basilica Reservoir is located southwest of the Hagia Sophia.
Undoubtedly, you know that by choosing Istanbul , there is no need to worry about exciting and fascinating entertainment, as well as visiting attractions and scenic areas, because Istanbul with its ups and downs history has unique features for each person and can Make any person excited. For those lovers of history and ancient monuments, this city can offer the best and most eye-catching and one hundred percent unique historical monuments.
The Basilica Reservoir, with its arched columns and ceilings and beautiful artistic structures, is the largest of the hundreds of ancient reservoirs below the city. This very large underground reservoir is known among the Turkish people as "Yerebatan Cistern" and this name is due to the presence of many marble columns in the underground.
Also, because the place where the reservoir is located, used to be an old basilica or church, hence it is also called Basilica Cistern in English. It is interesting to know that basilica literally means a place of worship. If you want to feel a little natural coolness in the summer heat, take a walk in this reservoir. Music and dance performances are also often held here.
The Basilica Cistern is the largest reservoir among the hundreds of ancient reservoirs hidden beneath the Turkish city of Istanbul. This reservoir is located 150 meters from the Hagia Sophia on the historic Sarayburnu Peninsula between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara in Istanbul.
The Basilica Reservoir was built by order of Justinian I, the Byzantine emperor who lived between 565-527 AD. During the Byzantine Empire, the Basilica Reservoir was used to supply the people with water and other necessities of the empire. After the conquest of Constantinople or present-day Istanbul in 1453 by the Ottomans, this reservoir was used for some time and the water stored in it was sent to Topkapi Palace, where the Ottoman Sultan was staying.The basilica reservoir was rebuilt during the reign of Sultan Ahmad III around 1723 AD by an architect named Kaiserili Mehmet Agha, which coincided with the Ottoman Empire.
Once again, during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, which lasted from 1876 to 1909, it underwent major repairs. The Istanbul Municipality dredged and rebuilt the Basilica Reservoir in 1986 and opened its doors to the public in 1987. Today, this reservoir is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul.
When you walk in this place, you will see traces of water drops dripping from the roof. A dreamy yet mysterious atmosphere that you will experience only in the basilica reservoir. The largest standing Byzantine reservoir in Istanbul rests on 336 columns 9 meters high, many of which are brought here from the ruins of temples and are decorated with beautiful carvings of temples.
Its cave-like depth is a good refuge to escape a summer day. Basilica Reservoir is 140 meters long and 70 meters wide and has 52 steps underground. The floor of the basilica reservoir is made of brick and covered with brick mortar. The water reservoir has a water storage capacity of about 100,000 tons and its total area reaches 9800 square meters.
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