For an ancient plumbing system, Istanbul's Basilica Cistern is remarkably beautiful and brimming with mysterious atmosphere. | Encyclopaedia Britannica

THE BASILICA CISTERN is the largest of hundreds of underground cisterns in Turkiye 🇹🇷 and the last surviving structure of its kind in Istanbul. The impressive space is capable of holding 80,000 cubic metres of water. It is located in the Sultanahmet district in the centre of Istanbul next to the famous converted cathedral and museum, Hagia Sophia. The Basilica Cistern has a grand total of 336 marble columns in a linear arrangement; 12 rows, each with 28 columns, many of these columns were take

🏛️ Basilica Cistern “Beneath the heart of Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern holds a world of shadows and light where ancient columns rise from silence, and history whispers through every drop of water.” Built in 532 AD The cistern was constructed during the reign of Emperor Justinian I of the Byzantine Empire. Its purpose was to store water for the Great Palace of Constantinople and surrounding buildings. 💫💫 Love Turkiye 💫💫 | Love Turkiye