Yerebatan Sarayı

Also known as the Basilica Cistern was constructed by Justinian in 532 primarily as a way to supply water to the Byzantine Palace. The cistern contains 336 columns and the main attraction are the two Medusa head column bases in the northwest corner.

According to our guide book, the cistern was completely forgotten about until 1545 when a scholar named Petrus Gyllius come to the city looking for Byzantine antiquities. During his trip the locals told him that they were able to catch fish and obtain water by lowering buckets in their basements. Eventually he found a house whose basement had access to the cistern and he was able to enter. The cistern became a dumping grounds for trash and corpses for the Ottomans and restoration didn't begin until the 18th century. Visitors to the cistern today walk on a raised platform while listening to classical music and the fish can still be seen swimming among the columns.