Page 54 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023 DISCOVERING TURKEY

THE BASILICA CISTERN

We had heard of the Basilica Cistern on previ-
ous Istanbul visits, but we weren’t enthusias-
tic about exploring a dark, damp underground
reservoir built over 1400 years ago. We
couldn’t have been more wrong. Our cistern
tour was one of the trip’s highlights. For pho-
tographers, it's a beautiful wonderland of
color and shapes, shadows and reflections. For
history buffs, it’s a revelation, and for tourists,
it's just plain fun.
Our guide led us to a small, easy to miss
door in the courtyard of the Hagia Sophia
mosque. From there, it’s a short walk to the
cistern entrance, where long lines are queued
for tickets. The cistern is a popular destina-
tion, and it can get crowded. It’s best to buy
tickets in advance and arrive early morning or
late afternoon to avoid the crowds.
Once inside, a platform overlooking the cis-
tern offers spectacular views across the mas-
sive subterranean space - 150 by 75 yards - a
stunning achievement of Byzantine engineer-
ing. The ceiling is supported by 12 rows of gi-
ant 30-foot tall columns - 336 in all.

54 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023