The Basilica Cistern of Istanbul, one of the most visited monuments of the historical and cultural heritage of the Turkish metropolis, looks spectacular in these images captured with a drone flying over its interior. Built in 542 AD by Emperor Justinian I next to Hagia Sophia, it was used to store water to supply the Byzantine imperial palace during periods of siege in ancient Constantinople. With a surface area of 8,678 square metres underground, it has the capacity to hold 100,000 cubic metres of water underground and its roof is supported by 336, 9-metre-high marble columns taken from pagan temples in various parts of the Roman Empire, but mainly in Anatolia.
🧿 TOP TOURS IN ISTANBUL
VOTE
EDITORIAL TEAM
🧿 About us
.
Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
…
📣 Your ADVERTISING on Hispanatolia
.
🤗 HELP US WITH A DONATION:
💗 Paypal
