Cistern of Theodosius
Underground Byzantine cistern with marble columns, now a cultural venue and concert space.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to the Cistern of Theodosius in Istanbul begins with a 2010 demolition crew breaking through a municipal building's floor into a forgotten fifth-century chamber below. It follows Emperor Theodosius II's original cistern, built to supply the Great Palace and its fountains, and traces how the site slipped out of memory across centuries as private estates and offices rose above it. Notice the acanthus-leaf carvings atop the marble columns as you walk the shallow water between them.
This audio guide was created using AI.
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