Şerefiye Cistern.

Şerefiye Cistern is open to visitors every day from 10:00 to 22:00.

## Contact:

Website: www.serefiyesarnici.istanbul / www.serefiyesarnici.istanbul/en

Address: Binbirdirek Neighborhood, Piyer Loti Street No:2/1, 34122 Fatih/Istanbul
Phone: 0212 222 28 82
Fax: 0212 568 60 85

## WHERE HISTORY, ART, AND TECHNOLOGY MEET: ŞEREFİYE CISTERN

Şerefiye Cistern, located in Istanbul's Historical Peninsula, is one of the oldest water structures in the city, dating back approximately 1,600 years. Although no construction inscription exists, it is believed to have been built during the reign of Theodosius II (408-450) based on its architectural features.

## The City's Lifelines: Cisterns

Due to the inadequacy of Istanbul's water resources, coupled with its high population density and frequent sieges, there was a need for structures to store water. For centuries, both open and closed cisterns were used as the city's water reservoirs. It is known that magnificent closed cisterns such as Şerefiye and Yerebatan primarily supplied water to the Great Palace, the Nymphaeum, and the Zeuksippos Baths. Built on an area of approximately 24 meters by 40 meters, with a ceiling height of 11 meters, Şerefiye Cistern features 45 groin vaults and 32 columns. All the Corinthian capitals, which bear impost blocks, were made specifically for the cistern from marble sourced from the Marmara Islands. The capitals are adorned with acanthus (bear's paw) leaves. The interior walls of the structure are covered with waterproof plaster, and the corners are curved to withstand water pressure. The wall thickness is approximately 2.5 meters.

## A Hidden Heritage Revealed...

Şerefiye Cistern gets its name from the neighborhood in which it was located during the Ottoman period. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Arif Pasha Mansion was built above the cistern. This building was used as the Istanbul Municipality Building in 1912. From 1930 to 2010, it served as the Istanbul Municipality Service Building and later as the Eminönü Municipality Building. In 2010, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality demolished the annexes of the Eminönü Municipality building, revealing the Şerefiye Cistern, which had been hidden beneath the building for a long time and was previously little known. Şerefiye Cistern stands out for its original flooring, which can be seen in comparison to other Byzantine-era underground structures in Istanbul, and for the remarkably well-preserved original Corinthian capitals. The area surrounding the cistern has been transformed into an archaeological park after the demolition of the surrounding concrete structures and landscaping.

## Admission Fees:

*For a quick, secure, and convenient visit, only credit/bank cards and Istanbul cards will be accepted for admission to the museum.
*Admission is free for domestic visitors aged 65 and over.
*Admission is free for visitors with disability identification cards. Except for those accompanying individuals with visual, physical, or mental disabilities, or children with disabilities, admission is free for those with disability companion cards. Identification must be presented. * Guests who purchase discounted tickets online are required to present identification at the entrance.
* Our institution is not affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, so the Museum Card is not valid.
* You can purchase entrance tickets for the Şerefiye Cistern online through Passo.
* Tickets purchased are valid for a single entry on the day of purchase. Refunds are not available. Source: kultur.istanbul — https://kultur.istanbul/serefiye-sarnici/