The Basilica Cistern corporate trip is a short culture programme that tours, with a guide, the Byzantine underground water reservoir just by Hagia Sophia in Sultanahmet. It can be planned as a stand-alone stop of an hour or two, or spread over half a day together with other monuments on the Historic Peninsula. It suits corporate teams looking for a different atmosphere in its cool, dimly lit interior.

What is in the programme?

The cistern was built in the 6th century, under Emperor Justinian I, to meet the water needs of the Great Palace and its surroundings. In the structure, also known locally as the Sunken Palace (Yerebatan Sarayı), the roof is carried by 336 columns; because many of them were taken from older buildings, the capitals and shafts differ from one another.

On the guided visit the group moves along the walkways above the water while the guide explains the differences between the column capitals, the column with the teardrop motif and the two Medusa heads used as column bases in the north-west corner. How the cistern was long forgotten in the Ottoman period, and came back on record in the 16th century when a French traveller noticed that houses in the area were drawing water from their basements, is one of the stories that draws the most interest on the visit.

Highlights

• A guided walk through an underground space of 336 columns
• The story of reused pieces such as the Medusa heads and the weeping column
• A tangible example of water management in the Byzantine city
• An indoor space that is cool in summer and sheltered from the wind in winter

Who Is It For?

Planned for SME and corporate teams of 10-80. For teams in the infrastructure, water, energy and construction sectors, it is an engaging example of urban engineering; thanks to its short duration, it can also be used as a cultural break added to meeting or conference days. Physical effort is low; there are stairs at the entrance and exit.

Planning Notes

• As the walkways are narrow, large groups move through the cistern in smaller sub-groups.
• The interior is dim and the floor can be damp in places; non-slip shoes are recommended.
• As the entrance queue can grow long during the day, planning the group's time slot in advance is recommended.
• It links easily into the same half day as Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet Square and Topkapı Palace.