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At the Cistern of Theodosius, locally known as Serefiye Sarnici, we take our visitors through a matchless adventure in which 1600 years bringing together history art and technology. Our cistern, located in the heart of Istanbul’s Historical Peninsula, offers a one-of-a-kind experience as ancient Byzantine architecture comes to life with a unique 360° projection mapping, extraordinary in the world for a structure of this age. It allows the visitors to travel through time, enjoying the most captivating shows, each with a blend of cutting-edge technology and timeless beauty from ancient crafts.
Two iconic projection mapping shows turn the visit to the museum into a many-dimesional experience: The «From Past to Present» show, with 3D effects highlighting the spatial qualities of Serefiye Cistern takes you away on a journey through the water heritage of Istanbul while making you admire to the architectural greatness of the building. From the Byzantine to the Ottoman Empires, this is a show depicting a complex water system that has sustained Istanbul since millennia. It is like history coming alive on the mosaics, icons, and Ottoman ceramic visuals in the cistern.
The second is «Istanbul: City of Water Civilization», which goes into depth with regard to the relationship between Istanbul and its water, therefore shedding light on the evolution of Istanbul as a «city of water» since time began. It develops hosting experiences that disclose their special historical and cultural dimensions for Istanbul’s exceptional status as a city.
Whether you are an art enthusiast, a history lover, or just a curious soul willing to uncover one of the best-kept secrets of Istanbul, Cistern of Theodosius will take you to an unforgettable atmosphere, allowing you to travel eternally in history, culture, and technology. Come and relive the historic charm of Istanbul with a truly modern twist!
Se construyó durante el reinado del emperador romano de Oriente (bizantino) Teodosio II, en el siglo V d. C., motivo por el cual lleva su nombre.
Data del siglo V d. C., construida aproximadamente entre los años 428 y 443, lo que le confiere unos 1.600 años de antigüedad y la convierte en una de las cisternas más antiguas que se conservan en Estambul.
Funcionaba como un depósito subterráneo cubierto que almacenaba y distribuía agua para Constantinopla, la capital bizantina, abastecida a través del sistema de acueductos de la ciudad.
La cisterna se sostiene sobre hileras de columnas de mármol rematadas con capiteles corintios que soportan bóvedas de ladrillo, una forma característica de la ingeniería de cisternas bizantina.
En turco se conoce como Serefiye Sarnici. Los nombres Cisterna de Teodosio y Cisterna de Serefiye se refieren a la misma estructura bizantina.
Tras una extensa restauración, se reabrió como espacio cultural y de exposiciones en 2018, permitiendo a los visitantes explorar el espacio subterráneo.
Se ubica en el distrito de Fatih, en la península histórica de Estambul, en Piyer Loti Cd. No:2/1, cerca de Sultanahmet y Cemberlitas.