Going Underground at the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul

Since it was raining this morning, Rob and I decided to see the underground cisterns next to the Hagia Sophia. The Basilica Cistern was built in the 5th century to hold up to 100,000 tons of water. It is one of the hundreds of ancient cisterns under Istanbul.

Drained to just a few feet of clear water, with a walking platform added and spa-music piped in, the cisterns are a relaxing escape from the bustling city. It’s a tourist trap, sure, but a nicely done one! At the back of the hall, there are two mysterious Roman Medusa head carvings holding up pillars. The best part was the fish swimming along in the clear water with us.