Theodosius Cistern

About Theodosius Cistern

Cistern in Istanbul, Turkey

The Theodosius Cistern, known in Turkish as Şerefiye Sarnıcı, is one of the oldest Byzantine water cisterns lying beneath Istanbul, with its modern entrance on Piyer Loti Street in Fatih, a short walk from Sultanahmet Square. It was built in the reign of Emperor Theodosius II between 428 and 443 CE to store water brought to Constantinople by the Valens Aqueduct, and lay buried beneath later buildings for centuries until it was rediscovered in 2010, when a municipal building above it was demolished; it was then restored and opened to visitors. The cistern is a rectangular hall whose vaulted roof rests on 32 marble columns with Corinthian capitals. It is smaller than the better-known Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan) but, according to Wikivoyage, better lit, more atmospheric and less touristy, and a light-and-sound show projected onto the walls and columns tells the story of the city and its water. It makes a short, comfortable stop on a tour of the historic peninsula, especially in the summer heat, and a fine example of the hydraulic engineering that kept Constantinople alive through sieges.

Where:

Istanbul, Türkiye