Basilica Cistern

The restoration of a nearly 2,800-year-old water cistern from the Urartu period, found within Harput Castle in Türkiye's eastern Anatolia region, has been successfully finalized.

In an upcoming exhibition, Istanbul's Basilica Cistern will host a collection of 22 predominantly crystal artworks by contemporary Czech sculptors Vlastimil Beránek and Jaroslav Prošek, set within its ancient, 1,500-year-old historical ambiance.

During the archaeological excavations in and around the Million Stone, located right next to the Basilica Cistern and is considered the zero point of the world, opposite the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul's Fatih district, the remains of buildings that are believed to be a neighborhood in the Ottoman Empire and walls from the Byzantine era have been unearthed.

The Cultural Heritage Preservation Board has approved a structural strengthening plan for the Basilica Cistern presented by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality 66 days ago, according to daily Milliyet.

"When the formal decision is delivered to us, we will start the renovation process in the Basilica Cistern," said Mahir Polat, secretary-general of the municipality.

A mysterious subterranean structure, the Yerebatan Sarnıcı (Sunken Cistern in English) astonishes visitors with its enchanting marble columns and sculptures. (Photos: Alamy)

A cistern storing fresh water dating back to the medieval era was unearthed in the ancient city of Tieion located in northern Turkey.

The historic Yerebatan (Basilica) Cistern, which is Turkey's third most visited spot in Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet district, has been undergoing a comprehensive restoration process for the first time after 500 years. 

"Inferno," Ron Howard's new movie starring Tom Hanks and based on Dan Brown's 2013 bestseller, could be an opportunity to revive Turkey's struggling tourism sector and to lure more foreign tourists, Hoteliers Association of Turkey (TÜROB) President Timur Bayındır has said. 

Istanbul's Basilica (Yerebatan) Cistern, will be on the silver screen all around the world thanks to the film adaptation of Dan Brown's thriller "Inferno." 
The film, which was directed by Ron Howard and premiered in Florence on Oct. 8, will be released in Turkey on Oct. 14. 

U.S. writer Dan Brown released "Inferno" in 2013.