Basilica Cistern price or entrance fee Non-Turkish visitors: 20 TL. The museum is located in Sultanahmet, Istanbul's most touristic district. 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. This eerie and atmospheric setting has attracted thriller writers across the ages. In 1912, a 50 meter (160 foot) section near the Fatih Mosque was torn down. As part of a project commissioned by Publiacqua in 2020, in partnership with the University of Florence, architect and photographer Davide Virdis immortalized a little-known subterranean spectacle, the aqueduct nestled beneath the area around Forte Belvedere and piazzale Michelangelo, reached by climbing via dell'Erta Canina. The aqueduct extended for 64 kilometres on the surface, before disappearing underground into three separate tunnels, with lengths of 1, 11, and 94 kilometres. The Medusa Heads hidden in the farthest corner of the cistern will be the most interesting part of your visit. All fields are required. In fact, the Basilica Cistern has been under restoration since 2015. It begins in an ancient swamp in Syria, which has long since dried out, and extends for 64 kilometers on the . Basilica Cistern is adjacent to Istanbul's most visited historical sites, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Hello Ingrid. This is the problem ancient techniciansperhaps Persian, perhaps Armeniantried to solve millennia ago. However, after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453, the cistern was lost for a long time. It ensured that the people of, first Byzantium, then Constantinople and ultimately Istanbul were kept supplied with water. - This Istanbul underground cistern is the size of a cathedral; it is 143m long and 65m wide and can hold up to 80,000 cubic meters (or 17.5 million gallons) of water. Completed by Roman Valens Aqueduct, Roman aqueduct, was the major water providing system of the Eastern Roman capital of Constantinople Istanbul. The first production to film the Cistern was In 1963, From Russia With Love starring Sean Connery. 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. 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 entrance to the Basilica Cistern of Istanbul is across the street from the Hagia Sophia. Most of the water was collected from the Belgrade Forest and other areas outside the city. Filed Under: MUSEUMS Tagged With: Istanbul Sightseeing, Museums of Istanbul. Initially, the Aqueduct of Valens carried water from springs at Danmandere and Pnarca; the channels from each spring met at Dayenice. Subsequently, the citys population increased dramatically and the main need of the inhabitants was water. Closed until 13.00 on the first day of religious holidays. Most of the Byzantine cisterns in Istanbul are found in and around Sultanahmet. Basilica Cistern is adjacent to Istanbuls most visited historical sites, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Look out for the signs. We were excited about the food in Istanbul too. It unites the two sides of the river which creates an amazing picturesque view. It will take only a few minutes to walk from Sultanahmet Tram Station to the cistern. The Istanbul Museum Pass, a product of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is not valid in museums run by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Here are some of the aqueducts to visit in Istanbul during your time in this glamourous city. This is the ultimate experience for first time visitors. During sieges this stored water would help the city survive while the army outside did not have enough water to sustain the siege. For this reason, you will see stone blocks of various sizes under each. You can walk from distinctive structures such as Hagia Sophia or Blue Mosque to the cistern. Aqueducts are very spectacular examples of the art work of improvement inside the Roman Empire. The two mammoth Medusa heads used as plinths in the far corner of the cistern. Istanbul Clues travel guide is designed to introduce you to the history, museums, restaurants and culture of istanbul. A part of these aqueducts built by Emperor Valens can still be seen in Istanbul. The Aqueduct of Valens is one of the most impressive Byzantine structures of modern Istanbul. 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. Many cisterns were built in the city to store the water coming from this aqueduct. The Underground Cistern (aka Basilica Cistern) is open everyday between 9am-7pm and the entrance fee of the cistern is 190 TL for foreign visitors. In this article, you can find detailed information about some of the cisterns that are open to touristic visits in Istanbul. Yes, I hope it opens by then. The ceiling of the cistern is supported by 336 reused columns from the ancient Greek period. . From these cisterns, the water is directed to hammams and fountains all over the town which mostly are active even they do not use the provided water from the cisterns. The water that is brought to the city was used to be stored in the Basilica (Yerebatan) Cistern and the Philoxenos (Binbirdirek) Cistern. Naturally, they were all high on our Istanbul sightseeing list and maybe a boat trip on The Bosphorus if we had the time. There are many articles on this website for those who want to trace the Byzantine sites in Istanbul. Tel: +90 212 522 12 59. Your email address will not be published. Valens Aqueduct - approximately 920 meters long - is one of the aqueduct bridges of Valens Aqueduct System bringing water from Thrace to Constantinople (Byzantine Istanbul). That's enough to fill 27 Olympic-sized swimming pools. 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. Hi. The 1500-year-old cistern is located underground and is dated to the Byzantine period. It took the builders about 28 years to fully . These structures were not only necessary and utile but also were pieces of artwork in an architectural way that has visual impacts. The final scene of the movie Inferno, based on Dan Browns novel, was also shot at Basilica Cistern. 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. 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 By Travelmail Reporter. This post contains affiliate links. [], 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. However, they did not use the cisterns. 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. The other reason is because it is ancient, artistic, creative and tempting. If you take Tram T1 from Kabatas Tram Station, you can reach Sultanahmet Tram Station in 15 minutes. I do walking tours in Istanbul focusing on Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history. Why were Roman aqueducts above ground? Read More. Is it still closed? Have a good day! Read more. Known locally as Yerebatan Sarayi (meaning Sunken Palace) or Yerebatan Sarnici (Sunken Cistern), this underground water cistern was the major water reservoir of Constantinople. With the removal of 50,000 tons of mud and building the excursion platform in it, it was completed on September 9, 1987, and opened to visitors again. It was constructed in 2012 to transfer water from the Melen Creek in Dzce Province to the European side of Istanbul. Also, Serefiye Cistern (Theodosius Cistern) is open every day of the week and the ticket price is 100 Turkish Liras. For example, Binbirdirek Cistern (Cistern of Philoxenos) is open to visitors every day except Sundays and the ticket price is 50 Turkish Liras. It looks like the restoration will continue throughout this year. 7. 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. Medusa head at the Basilica cistern, Istanbul. Basilica Cistern promises its visitors a mysterious journey back to ancient times. You can visit the Underground Cistern either with our One Day in Istanbul or Istanbul Layover Tour. Basilica Cistern is among my favorite historical monuments as a local guide. Valens Aqueduct is one of the aqueduct bridges of the Valens Aqueduct System bringing water from Thrace to Constantinople. 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 . Istanbul is not an ordinary city but an open-air museum that displays the artifacts of its abundant history that dates back to 400000 years ago. Pour cause, 45.000 membres de forces de l'ordre seront mobiliss chaque jour pendant trois mois, les empchant d'tre . Dring has found a better explanation. If you want to join a private guided tour in Istanbul, you can check out my references and tours from ABOUT page. They didnt want to face her, even if she was going to be submerged in a cistern. The Theodosius Cistern, another Byzantine cistern serving as a museum, is also located very close. The citadel of Gjirokastra had underground reservoirs to store water provided by an aqueduct, which was some 10km long, one of the longest of the period. Remember this mysterious and exotic underground cistern from the James Bond movie, From Russia with Love? 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. The Underground Cistern is open to visitors every day between 09.00 - 17.30. Hi Zana, thank you for the great review. I guess the latter is true since the heads were probably reclaimed from another Roman building and not made to measure. 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. Look out for the signs. The Historical Peninsula on which Constantinople was founded was a place known for its scarcity of water resources. Youll probably spend no more than an hour at the cistern. Visit the most fascinating and spectacular sights of the old city in this specially curated tour. You can get there on foot from the same tram stop. Nevertheless it involved some of the most remarkable engineering of antiquity, including the longest aqueduct system of the ancient world. Watch on. 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. Today the old water supply system as well as new dams and three lakes built nearby supply water to the heavily populated city. 2013-2022 Guided Istanbul Tours - website by Odeon Creative. Technologies in Ancient Civilizations Istanbul-Turkey 66 Angelakis, A.N. Fun fact; there are as many as 100 big underground cisterns scattered all over Istanbul. The ceiling is supported by 336 marble columns. 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. You can buy skip-the-line tickets for the Basilica Cistern from this link and discover this unique historical monument by joining a guided group. Basilica Cistern has long been closed for restoration. Visiting hours were last revised on 10 August 2022. 3 Replies to "Istanbul Underground . Decline. After the conquest of Istanbul, Ottomans repaired the destructed ones and built many more what made Istanbul the wealthiest city in the aspect of aqueducts and other water-related constructions in the World, out of the argument. The aqueduct remained in use for many centuries. Want to know if its open for visit now. The main reason I like it is that you can take fabulous photos from each side and corners if the light is right. Constantinople never matched the water supply of the city of Rome, which had eleven aqueducts. This is also the reason that the aqueduct is called so. This marvelous piece of engineering only confirms yet again that those were the heydays of the Byzantine Empire. The Basilica Cistern takes its name from the Stoa Basilica, the public square under which it was built. Your email address will not be published. As stated at the beginning, these aqueducts are mostly outside the city center and require time and facilities to visit them. However, this factory prevents people from visiting the aqueduct all along. The Ottomans repaired the Valens Aqueduct and continued to bring water to the city through the Roman system. The Valenta Aqueduct is one of the largest structures in Istanbul, with a length of 920 meters and a height of 30 meters. Today, Atatrk Boulevard - built in the 1950s - passes under its arches. Standing inside the historical peninsula of Istanbul, Valens Aqueduct is one of the aqueduct bridges of Valens Aqueduct System bringing water to Constantinople from Thrace. Located 15 kilometers away from the Valens Aqueduct, Mazulkemer Aqueduct is thought to be the first aqueduct that is built to carry water from the Halkali region. Prices and download plans . The underground cistern, which is 143-meters long and 65-meters wide, could hold up to 80,000 cubic meters of water. In Turkey we call the aqueduct Bozdoan Kemeri, which . 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. Since most of the columns in the cistern are taken from other structures, their lengths are different. With only two days in the city we needed to choose carefully which landmarks wed visit. 2. The underground Mosque: Some of the Beyzantin Empire's structure here reused by the Ottomans. +90 212 455 13 00 Save + - Leaflet Valens Aqueduct The 921-meter long Valens Aqueducts - a prominent landmark in Istanbul's Fatih district - played a vital role in supplying water to the people of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Aqueduct of Valens (Bozdoan Kemeri) If you're into historical buildings like the Blue Mosque, this is one of the hidden gems that you really can't miss. Thank you for your awesome post and amazing pictures. Not available. Turkish visitors: 15 TL and teachers and students: 5 TL. The aqueduct consisted of vaulted masonry channels large enough to walk through, built . However, it was completely closed in 2020 due to Covid and never opened again. Note: The Istanbul Museum Pass is not valid here although the Guided Museum Pass is. In 1545, while researching Byzantine antiquities in the city, Frenchman, Peter Gyllius was told that people in the locality obtained water by lowering buckets through holes in their basements and sometimes even caught fish this way. 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! Towards the back of the cistern in the far left-hand corner are two carved stone Medusa heads used as column bases. Many historians consider this to be due to the superstitions of Byzantine society. Feeling high: This picture from 1915 shows that the aqueducts were of interest even then. For a long time we were able to visit even though the renovation was going on. In the high season (spring, summer and autumn) there are long lines at the entrance to the Basilica Cistern. Valens Aquaduct, Istanbul 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). This is Serhat Engul. In this subterranean world the 9-metre high columns glow in the darkness; a mixture of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian pillars spaced at four-meter intervals, and arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns each. Suzanne Jones/The Travelbunny All rights reserved, opposite the yellow building of the Tourist Police in Sultanahmet. 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 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 . "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. Lack of water became a major problem as the citys population grew. Required fields are marked *, Hello, I'm Serhat Engul. Most of the water was collected from the Belgrade Forest and other areas outside the city. Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnc) It turns out the aqueduct is of Roman origin. The surviving portion of the aqueduct is a distinctive landmark in Istanbul as every-day traffic passes between its arches. Did the Romans have good hygiene? Valens Aqueduct is one of the largest structures of Istanbul; it is 920 meters long and 30 meters high. 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. a hydraulic system of water aqueducts located in the Mexican Central Plateau (AB ev) Banska Stiavnica. https://istanbultourstudio.com/tours/valens-aqueduct. EUR 880,000. You may see the details of this tour on the HOMEPAGE of the blog. The aqueduct is 710 meters long and 26 meters in height. Known locally as Yerebatan Sarayi (meaning Sunken Palace) or Yerebatan Sarnici (Sunken or Underground Cistern), this underground water cistern was the major water reservoir of Constantinople. 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. Thats enough to fill 27 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Our hotel in Istanbul was in the Sultanahmet District, close to The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Like Maglova and Uzunkemer, Egri Aqueduct is finished in the 1560s and built by Architect Sinan. 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. This is the eldest aqueduct in the inner city and most probably the most famous one. Sign in Sign up for FREE Prices and download plans Since theyre all in close proximity in the Sulthanamet this is the perfect place to start [], [] flying into Istanbul we took a flight to Kayseri in the centre of the country. ten minutes walking distance from the aqueduct, to taste the delicious and traditional boza drink. Prices and download plans . The small entrance is located 150 metres southwest side of Hagia Sophia opposite the yellow building of the Tourist Police in Sultanahmet. Divanyolu Cad. Amber lighting illuminates the 336 marble columns rising from the water and their height is elongated by the reflections in the shallows. Istanbul, Turkey - May 15, 2018: View of the ancient Valens Aqueduct in Unkapani, Istanbul. In order to reach the underground cistern, you enter a modern-designed glass room and go down the stairs. Unfortunately it hasnt been opened yet. The easiest way to get there is to take M2 Metro and get off at Vezneciler metro station. A Roman Aqueduct was built in late antiquity to bring water to Constantinople from the mountains of Thrace. You can read about the history of the Basilica Cistern in this article. This ancient waterway or let's say aqueduct is one of the most intriguing spots for me in stanbul. However, there are other Byzantine cisterns that can be visited as an alternative. But there is an unusual attraction in the city that has intrigued me since I first heard about it. The Basilica Cistern entrance fee and opening hours are also noted. PUBLISHED: 13:25 GMT, 9 November 2012 | UPDATED: 13:25 GMT, 9 November 2012 . This is a fantastic option to see some of the ICONIC LANDMARKS in the whole of Istanbul and youll receive plenty of background information on each location to enlighten you. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); +90 542 591 9925+90 551 041 0248[emailprotected], Alemdar Mah. Serial traveller and ex-professional travel planner. 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. In 330 CE, Constantine I (Constantine the Great) declared Constantinople as the new capital of the Roman Empire. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Author of this blog, Serhat Engul, is a licensed tour guide based in Istanbul. A picture from 1915 showing people standing on an aqueduct in Istanbul. The only bad thing about the cistern is the long queues in front of it. Byzantine historian Petrus Gyllius, who came to Ottoman Istanbul in the 16th century, made the rediscovery of the cistern. The aqueduct is a two-story building with 33 arches, it has a pedestrian passage on the top and is 260 meters long. 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. Im planning to go to Istanbul in May and I wish I could visit the cistern. This underground chamber measures approximately 138 meters (453 ft) by 64.6 meters (212 ft) and is capable of holding 80,000 cubic meters (2,800,000 cu ft) of water. It is part of the Kirkcesme Water Facility, which was completed by Mimar Sinar in 1564. Istanbuls aqueducts that are built by Romans are the longest of the Roman Empire has ever built, it is almost three times longer than the second one which is in Carthage, Tunisia. The underground mosque or kurunlu mahzen camii (Gunpowder Store Mosque) can tell by its name that it was used as an armory. The most significant restoration in the Republic period was started in 1985 by Istanbul Municipality. He has identified more than 300 sites, and he knows there . Berat and Gjirokastra. What is the longest aqueduct in the world? Istanbuls Basilica cistern, and its role in keeping the city supplied with water since the sixth century. - There are 336 giant columns (mostly Ionic or Corinthian in style) supporting the structure in 12 rows of 28 columns. For this reason, most of the Byzantine cisterns underground were forgotten. The ceiling reaches 9 meters in height and is supported by 32 marble columns, topped by . Museum Pass Istanbul is not valid in the museum. (2009). Built by Justinian, the most famous ruler of the Byzantine Empire, the cistern was one of Constantinoples most important water resources. All of these major aqueducts and many more were used to carry and store the water in the cisterns in the city. The cistern is open to visitors every day of the week. AUD $1,362,633. It was built in the, All of these major aqueducts and many more were used to carry and store, All you need to know about Bosphorus Tours & Cruises, Worlds Oldest Temple Gobekli Tepe | Where and How to Visit, The Current Status Of Chora Church (last update August 2022), Private 2 Days Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul (Optional Hot Air Balloon), 6 Days Private Turkey Tour; Istanbul & Cappadocia, Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour, 2 Days Private Ephesus and Pamukkale Tour, 6 Days Private Turkey Tour; Istanbul, Ephesus and Pamukkale, 2-Hour Private Luxury Yacht Cruise on Bosphorus with Transfers. Only 50 meters of the original length is destroyed and more than 900 meters are still standing. Wonders of Constantinople's underground water world to go on display in Istanbul. Let me know if you need any help when you visit Istanbul. I was in Sultanahmet a few days ago and it was still closed. Illuminated by red and green lights, the cistern is now even more mysterious and picturesque than before. [1] Contents 1 Need for the aqueduct 2 Commissioning and finance In addition, there is the Sarnic (Cistern) Restaurant and the Nakilbent Cistern located under a carpet store. But even if it doesnt open, the Cistern of Philoxenos is a good alternative as one of the biggest cisterns from the Byzantine period. 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. I offer PRIVATE HALF DAY TOUR which includes a visit to the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern and the Spice Bazaar. The water was transported from the Belgrade Forest by the immense Byzantine aqueducts(Valens Aqueducts). Hi Lacy, no official information has been given about when the Basilica Cistern will reopen. What is unlucky about Maglova is the dam that almost covered the structure. Valens Aqueduct is only five minutes walk to the west from Vezneciler metro station. 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. No:22 Kat:3 (3rd Floor) Fatih It was built in the late 4th century AD by Constantinus. I wish you a wonderful trip! Curious to know more he entered via a stone staircase in the back yard of a house and the cistern was re-discovered. Have a nice trip! Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque. Today, 52 steps located a few hundred feet from Hagia Sophia lead down to a clean and lighted forest of columns, used for concerts and as a location for "From Russia with Love." Carp swim in the gloomy shallows beneath the boardwalk. Theodosius Cistern, Cistern of Philoxenos and Basilica Cistern can be visited as museums. Thus, you will listen to the history of the cistern from the professional tour guide. This must-see treasure of Istanbul sits very close to the iconic Hagia Sophia in Sultanahmet district, but unlike the world-famous mosque, it is located underground. This immense underground water container was built during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in 532 to meet the water needs of the Great Palace. In this way, it is visited by an average of 3 million people a year. 15th arrondissement of Paris, Paris, le-de-France. The largest of these was the Basilica Cistern, and it carried water to monumental structures such as Hagia Sophia and the Great Palace. Hi! The famous actor Tom Hanks played the leading role of this movie, which was shot in 2016. 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). Because the atmosphere of the cistern is so fascinating. The 1500-year-old cistern is located underground and is dated to the Byzantine period. (In Greek mythology, Medusa was a female monster with snakes for hair, and anyone that looked into her eyes was instantly turned to stone.) Therefore, it is recommended to buy a skip the line ticket. However, after the completion of this detailed renovation, Basilica Cistern has been reopened as of 23 July 2022. Valens (Bozdogan) Aqueduct This is the eldest aqueduct in the inner city and most probably the most famous one. Istanbuls basillica cistern is eerily fascinating. Valens Aqueduct is one of the largest structures of Istanbul; it is 920 meters long and 30 meters high. You will see that one of these Medusa Heads is placed sideways and the other is placed upside down.