Turkify

Istanbul is a city full of history, culture, and beauty. It has many famous attractions, such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and Topkapi Palace. But there are also some hidden gems that most tourists don’t know about. One of them is Nakilbent Cistern, a subterranean water reservoir that dates back to the Byzantine era. The Legend of Nakilbent Cistern Nakilbent Cistern is located in the Fatih district, near the Süleymaniye Mosque. It was built by Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century, as part of a complex water system that supplied the city. The cistern has a rectangular shape, with 224 columns supporting its vaulted ceiling. It can hold up to 40,000 cubic meters of water. But there is more to this cistern than meets the eye. According to a legend, there is a secret tunnel that connects Nakilbent Cistern to the Basilica Cistern, another famous underground water reservoir in Istanbul. The tunnel was used by the Byzantine emperors to escape from their enemies, or...