The hidden cistern in Istanbul is a perfect place to go when you are the at your most hot and sweaty. An inconspicuous little building off a busy intersection leads down to a giant underground cistern (water storage cavern) with an elevated walkway through the 336 columns that hold up the street and buildings above. It covers about 100,000 sq ft (9,000sq m) and is a delightfully peaceful, cool, and dark place that is a heavenly respite from the hustle, bustle, and heat above. In the back there are a couple giant Medusa heads taken from somewhere and intentionally installed one upside down and one on its side. They do not know why. The water is riddled with goldfish, some are enormous and obese.
Apparently, there were some scenes from a James Bond movie filmed here, but I do not remember which one.
