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Basilica Cistern

6th-century religious buildings and structures6th century in the Byzantine EmpireByzantine secular architectureCisterns in IstanbulCultural depictions of Medusa
FatihReservoirs in TurkeyRoman cisternsTourist attractions in Istanbul
Basilica Cistern Istanbul
Basilica Cistern Istanbul

The Basilica Cistern, or Cisterna Basilica (Turkish: Yerebatan Sarnıcı or Yerebatan Saray, "Subterranean Cistern" or "Subterranean Palace"), is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The cistern, located 150 metres (490 ft) southwest of the Hagia Sophia on the historical peninsula of Sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. Today it is kept with little water, for public access inside the space.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Basilica Cistern (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Basilica Cistern
Divanyolu Caddesi, Istanbul

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Wikipedia: Basilica CisternContinue reading on Wikipedia

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 41.008055555556 ° E 28.977777777778 °
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Address

Yerebatan Sarnıcı

Divanyolu Caddesi
34122 Istanbul
Türkiye
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Website
geziyerler.com

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Basilica Cistern Istanbul
Basilica Cistern Istanbul
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Caferağa Medrese
Caferağa Medrese

The Caferağa Medrese or Cafer Ağa Madrasa (Turkish: Caferağa Medresesi) is a former medrese, located in Istanbul, Turkey, next to the Hagia Sophia. It was built in 1559 by Mimar Sinan on the orders of Cafer Ağa, during the reign of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent (1520-1566). The medrese was transformed by the Turkish Cultural Service Foundation in 1989 into a tourist centre with 15 classrooms/exhibition rooms, a big salon and a garden where traditional Turkish handicrafts such as calligraphy, ceramics, jewelry and so forth are taught, made and sold. It is now recognised as an important centre of Turkish classical arts, run by the Foundation for the Service of Turkish Culture. There is an annual exhibition at the end of each year where students of various classes (ceramics, mosaics, etc.) are given a chance to show case their works which are preselected by their teachers for this particular exhibition. The medrese is located close to the Hagia Sophia - stairs lead down to it from the small street - and to Topkapi Palace. The structure is entered through the main gate which leads into the inner courtyard, around which the former learning rooms are located. There is a restaurant inside that offers a variety of Turkish dishes. The medrese is located within the historical centre of Istanbul's Sultanhamet district, and as such comes within the UNESCO World Heritage Site conservation area which covers the entire district.