King Charles' youngest brother Prince Edward visits Istanbul's famed Basilica Cistern

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) – The youngest brother of Britain’s King Charles on Tuesday visited the famed Basilica Cistern Museum in the heart of Istanbul’s historic Fatih district.

Officials from the Istanbul city government and experts working on the museum's restoration welcomed Prince Edward, the duke of Edinburgh, in front of the museum.

The British consul general in Istanbul, Kenan Poleo, also accompanied Edward during his visit.

Edward saw the excavation work being done during restoration of the Byzantine-era cistern and also learned about an Ottoman-era water gauge and its working principles from city officials.

Edward was briefed by Mahir Polat, a top official at the city government, on why the cistern is historically significant for Istanbul.

Lutgarde Vandeput, head of the British Institute in the capital Ankara, said the prince visited the basilica “to see whether all these past practices … past water management, whether it could be of interest and of importance for present-day water management challenges.”

Edward arrived in Türkiye on Monday for a three-day visit.

Located on the historic peninsula of Sarayburnu, walking distance from both the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Mosque, the cisterns are famed for their unique, almost otherworldly atmosphere.

The underground cistern was built in 542 by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I to supply the Great Palace of Constantinople – as the city was then known – with clean water. The cistern is home to a striking sculpture of the mythological monster Medusa, along with other memorable sights.