Latest News

Zeyrek Cistern

The Zeyrek Cistern is a remarkable example of Byzantine-era engineering in Istanbul. While not as large or famous as the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan) or the Theodosius Cistern (Serefiye), it offers a unique and atmospheric glimpse into the city's rich history.

The cistern is located in the Zeyrek neighborhood of Istanbul's Fatih district, close to the Zeyrek Mosque (formerly the Church of the Pantokrator Monastery). This area was a significant center of religious and political life during the Byzantine period. It was built around 12th century, to provide water storage for the nearby Pantokrator Monastery complex. The monastery was one of the largest and most important in Constantinople, founded by Emperor John II Komnenos and his wife, Empress Irene. The cistern was a vital part of the monastery's infrastructure.

After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the cistern fell into disuse and was largely forgotten. It was used for various purposes over the centuries during the Ottoman period, including as a storage space and even a workshop. In 2014 a long and meticulous restoration project was started by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The walls, columns, and ceiling were cleaned and repaired, debris and later additions were removed, the structure was reinforced, lighting and walkways were installed to make it accessible to visitors. Finally, after extensive restoration, the Zeyrek Cistern opened to the public as a museum in February 2025. An exhibition within the cistern provides information about its history, architecture, and the restoration process. It also displays findings discovered during the restorations.

Zeyrek cistern is a large, rectangular underground reservoir built of brick and stone. It's a hypostyle cistern, meaning the roof is supported by columns. It's approximately 25 meters long, 16 meters wide, and 9 meters high. There are 44 marble columns, arranged in four rows of eleven, and they support the vaulted brick ceiling. The columns are of varying styles and reused from earlier Roman buildings, a common practice back then. The column capitals are mostly Corinthian and Ionic styles. The walls are made of brick and rubble, coated with a waterproof mortar.

Opening times of Zeyrek cistern Vary depending on the season.

Hope to see you soon in Istanbul.