Audio GuideCistern of Theodosius

In the heart of Istanbul’s old city, beneath the bustling streets and the shadows of modern buildings, lies a silent, echoing wonder nearly sixteen centuries old: the Şerefiye Cistern. Built in the early fifth century by order of Emperor Theodosius the Second, this underground reservoir offers a glimpse into the hidden life of ancient Constantinople, once the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

marco zanussi

Back then, Constantinople’s greatest challenge was water. With few rivers on its historic peninsula, the city relied on vast aqueducts, including the legendary Valens Aqueduct, to bring in fresh water from distant hills. To safeguard supplies during sieges and times of scarcity, water was stored in enormous underground chambers. Şerefiye, sometimes known as the Theodosius Cistern, was among the finest, channeling life to grand public baths, fountains, and the imperial palace.

柳云（liu yun柳云）

Step inside, and you are surrounded by thirty-two tall marble columns, their sleek surfaces rising up to support brick domes and graceful arches. The columns—each crowned with intricate Corinthian-style carvings of acanthus leaves—stand in even rows, where cool air hangs thick and footsteps echo on centuries-old stone. The roof overhead weaves together sail-shaped vaults, spreading the weight evenly, while thick walls—over two meters wide—were once covered with a glistening, waterproof plaster, their corners softly curved to resist water pressure.

Rouslan Valonen (LibertyToursLLC)

For centuries, Şerefiye and its sister cisterns, like the nearby Basilica and Binbirdirek, hid beneath ever-changing layers of city life. Over time, as Ottoman water traditions shifted, this ancient reservoir was forgotten, its entrance sealed off beneath grand mansions and government buildings.

Rediscovered in this century and carefully restored, today Şerefiye is a museum, alive with music, light, and colorful projections dancing across its domed ceiling. Visitors can admire its exceptional engineering, unique columns made specifically for this space, and enjoy a display where modern technology brings the ancient stonework to life. Standing among these timeless arches, you sense both the ingenuity of the empire that built them and the city’s unbroken thread of history.