Yerebatan Saray, or the Sunken Palace, in Istanbul is an underground cistern including impressive remains of the Byzantine network of waterways, built to supply fresh water to the inhabitants of Constantinople over 1000 years ago.

The cistern has 336 marble columns which rise nearly 30 feet to support arches and domes. Built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD, the materials used were taken from even older buildings. As you stroll through the haunting space, remember that the stones may have come from a Greek temple or Roman house.

Situated just a stone's throw to the west of the Haghia Sophia church, the cool respite given by a visit here on a boiling summer's day should not be overlooked.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c102/jakob_zh/Architecture/727c6dc1.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c102/jakob_zh/Architecture/3519fd71.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c102/jakob_zh/Architecture/ccfbbbaa.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c102/jakob_zh/Architecture/a2b7bdba.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c102/jakob_zh/Architecture/e570b597.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c102/jakob_zh/Architecture/dfef3f3e.jpg

Medusa's head:


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c102/jakob_zh/Architecture/7ccfd9a5.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c102/jakob_zh/Architecture/17d3cf07.jpg

A few years ago, the Sunken Palace was visited in small gondolas like in Venice and the guide showed everything with a pocket lamp. That was so impressive! Nowadays, there are everywhere paths to walk on. But earlier, Medusa's head was underwater and could be seen only when the guide focused with his pocket lamp on it which was really scary. Today, there's a path and Medusa's head isn't so spectacular anymore...

http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/computing/users/mjs/photos/turkey_jul02/yerebatan_saray-istanbul.JPG

NICE! what an awesome place 10

7.5/10

7.5/10

a bit weird

8/10 ;)

7.5/10

8.5/10

I like this place: 9!

7/10

9.5/10.

impressive 8.5/10

10/10

9,5/10

wow, a very surreal atmosphere1


10/10

i love the floating lamps

Been there - it's a really surreal experience.

looks great!
9/10

9/10- amazing. i remember seeing it in the amazing race and reading that today's istambul was built over constantinople (same thing) and that there's a whole deserted and almost destroyed city under istambul... interesting stuff.

Awesome. And so old. Wow. 10/10

10/10

10/10 :okay:

9/10

10! :)

7/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

9.5 kinda freaky though.

8/10:)

Nice!!

9/10

10/10

8/10 :okay:

8.5/10

9/10

9.5

9/10

10. Excellent. Regards.

9/10

9/10

9.5/10

7/10

9/10

7.5/10

8/10 Needs some touch

9/10

this speacial place deserves 10/10

Amazing and special. 10/10

10/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

7.5/10