02 Nisan | Yerebatan Sarnıcı | The Basilica Cistern

-TR- (English Below)

İSTANBUL’UN GÖRKEMLİ TARİHSEL YAPILARINDAN: YEREBATAN SARNICI

Bizans İmparatoru I. Justinianus (527-565) tarafından yaptırılan sarnıç, suyun içinden yükselen ve sayısız gibi görülen mermer sütunlar sebebiyle halk arasında “Yerebatan Sarayı” olarak biliniyor. Sarnıcın bulunduğu yerde daha önce bir bazilika bulunduğundan, Bazilika Sarnıcı olarak da anılıyor.

İstanbul’un görkemli tarihsel yapılarından biri olan Yerebatan Sarnıcı, uzunluğu 140 metre, genişliği 70 metre olan dikdörtgen biçiminde bir alanı kaplayan, dev bir yapıdır. Toplam 9.800 m2 alanı kaplayan bu sarnıç, yaklaşık 100.000 ton su depolama kapasitesine sahiptir. 52 basamaklı taş bir merdivenle inilen bu sarnıcın içerisinde her biri 9 metre yüksekliğinde 336 sütun bulunmaktadır.

Halk arasında “ağlayan sütun”, “gözyaşı sütunu” olarak bilinen gözyaşına benzer işlemelerin bulunduğu sütun ile Roma dönemi heykel sanatının şaheserlerinden sayılan iki “Medusa Başı”, tarihî sarnıcın simgeleri arasında yer alıyor.

Yerebatan Sarnıcı, İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi Kültür Varlıkları Dairesi Başkanlığı tarafından 2016 yılında başlatılan ve 5 yılı aşkın süredir devam eden çalışmalar neticesinde, yenilenen yüzüyle yerli ve yabancı ziyaretçileri ağırlıyor. 

Ziyaret:

Lütfen Dikkat!

- Biletiniz 09:00 - 18:30 saatleri arasında geçerlidir.

İletişim:

Adres: Yerebatan Cad. Alemdar Mah. 1/3 34410 Sultanahmet-Fatih, Istanbul

Telefon: 0 (212) 512 15 70

E-mail: info@yerebatan.com

-EN-

THE BASILICA CISTERN

-In search of water

Ordered by Justinianus I (527-565), Byzantine Emperor, the cistern is called among Turkish people as “Yerebatan Cistern” (the Subterranean Cistern) owing to the marble columns that rise up from the water and seem to be countless. The cistern is also called “the Basilica Cistern” as it is located on a place formerly known as “the Stoa Basilica.”

Built on a 140-meter long and 70-meter wide rectangular space, the spacious cistern covers 9.800 sqm area, in total. The cistern is 9 meter high and has 336 columns with a capacity to store 100 thousand tonnes of water. The cistern is also home to a “tear column” with tear-like decorations and two “Medusa heads” which are considered to be among the masterpieces of the Roman sculpture.

Operated by Kultur AS of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the Basilica Cistern serves as a museum as well as hosting many national and international events.

Visit:

The museum is open to visitors between 09.00 - 18:30 every day. (With the exception of the first day of religious holidays.) 

THE BASILICA CISTERN / WARNINGS

- Photography and video is allowed. Written permit is required for professional shootings and / or any tripod use.

- You can pay by cash or credit. Foreign currency is not accepted.

- Museum Card is not accepted.

- Entrance is free for those under 7 and above 65 years of age.

- Entrance is free for those with Disability ID and their one attendant, as well as Veterans/Martyrs and their one first degree relative.

- Discount is available for teachers, students, police and military. Please show appropriate identification.

- Cistern management has the right to decline entrance to visitors if found inappropriate.

- Tickets are non-refundable and must be used only once and on the day of purchase.

- Food and drinks are not allowed into the cistern.

- Smoking, including electronic cigarettes is forbidden inside the cistern.

- Pets are not allowed.

- Cistern humidity level is 96%.

- There may be ceiling condensation because of the high humidity level. Please be aware of your electronic devices as water damage is a possibility.

- Be cautious as the floor is wet and it can be dark inside the cistern.

-  High heels are not appropriate for the entrance-exit stairs and the walking platform.

- Please hold on to the railings as you enter and exit through the stairs.

-  It is dangerous and forbidden to lean on the railings as they are low in height.