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Basilica Cistern Skip the Line Ticket
Istanbul, TürkiyeOperated by VacoTours Excursions
Discover the Basilica Cistern, an ancient infrastructure that has served Istanbul's water needs for centuries. Witness Byzantine artworks, including the iconic Medusa heads and hundreds of illuminated columns. Learn about the secrets of these subterranean structures as you naviga
Highlights
- Discover the Basilica Cistern, an ancient infrastructure that has served Istanbul's water needs for centuries.
- Witness Byzantine artworks, including the iconic Medusa heads and hundreds of illuminated columns.
- Learn about the secrets of these subterranean structures as you navigate the underground site.
About this experience
Dating back to 532 AD, the Basilica Cistern is the city's largest covered cistern, originally supplying water to the Great Palace, home to emperors. Walk along the raised platforms and soak up the sights while standing safe and dry among 336 illuminated marble and granite columns. See the Byzantine architecture and the famous Medusa heads at the base of the columns. This historic site has appeared in films like Dan Brown's "Inferno" and the James Bond movie.