The Basilica Cistern in Istanbul is almost 1500 years old. I’m writing this in Atlanta, a city that’s barely 180 years old. Time will destroy you if you think about it too much. Istanbul is a ...

In 2026, visiting the Basilica Cistern, Eltz Castle, and Walzin Castle requires careful planning to meet specific access rules and seasonal conditions. From evening-only tickets in Istanbul to advance ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. STORY: The cistern was reopened to visitors in late July following a restoration period to erect steel rods and install a light ...

The Basilica Cistern is Istanbul's largest surviving Byzantine cistern and one of its most unique historic sites. Constructed in 532 for Justinian I, this sprawling underground water reservoir –which ...

Record number of tourists visited Istanbul's Basilica Cistern with the wave of bestselling author Dan Brown's latest book, "Inferno." Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) stated Monday that last ...

Atlas Obscura on Slate is a blog about the world’s hidden wonders. Like us on Facebook and Tumblr, or follow us on Twitter. A Frenchman visiting Constantinople in the 16 th century heard strange ...

Gingerly descending 52 steps, I enter a vast cavernous space, as magnificent as a cathedral. The space is cool, as though it were air-conditioned, and I can hear strains of soft music. Wooden ...

As May 2026 arrives, Istanbul is hitting its stride with comfortable weather and flight deals starting around $593 from the US, making it the perfect window for your first international leap. However, ...

One of Istanbul's most intriguing attractions, the Basilica Cistern, or Yerebatan Sarnıcı as it's known in Turkish, was built by Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century to store up to 80,000m3 of water ...

Gingerly descending 52 steps, I enter a vast cavernous space, as magnificent as a cathedral. The space is cool, as though it were air-conditioned, and I can hear strains of soft music. Wooden ...