Basilica Cistern, Istanbul
Basilica Cistern entrance view, Istanbul (Photo: Daydream Tourist)
How does a city surrounded by the ocean get enough fresh water to support a population of nearly half a million people? The answer for Byzantine Emperors Constantine and Justinian I was a 19km aqueduct that emptied into a massive reservoir beneath Constantinople. Today you can visit the Basilica Cistern; the entrance is about a block away from the Hagia Sophia. The cavernous pool is cool, dimly lit and a quiet retreat from the tourist commotion above. I thought it was incredibly beautiful and peaceful and spent about an hour very slowly wandering through it.
Daydream Tourist 