Tucked beneath the sloping streets of Istanbul’s historic Zeyrek neighbourhood, just below the Zeyrek Mosque (once the Monastery of Christ Pantocrator), lies one of the city's most atmospheric rediscoveries: the Zeyrek Cistern. Recently restored and opened to the public, this Byzantine structure was originally part of the water system supporting the grand monastery complex above. Today, it offers travellers a quieter, more intimate alternative to the well-trodden Basilica Cistern.
