Subterranean Sites in Istanbul

Discover 3 unusual subterranean sites in Istanbul.

The cistern beneath the carpet store.

Istanbul, Turkey

Nakilbent Cistern

A sixth-century Byzantine cistern hidden below a modern carpet store.

Interior of the mosque.

Istanbul, Turkey

Yeralti Camii (Underground Mosque)

A surprising and unconventional mosque hidden in the subsoil of Istanbul.

336 ancient columns

Istanbul, Turkey

Basilica Cisterns of Istanbul

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

Are we missing something unusual in Istanbul?