The Basilica Cistern in Turkey is definitely worth a visit

It really resembles the scenes from some video games, or rather, many game scene designs are inspired by it. Just looking at it can remind you of certain levels. As for the history, it's true that you need to do some homework before going, or patiently read the on-site introductions (which mainly talk about Turkish hydraulic engineering). Many people don't think highly of it, finding it boring and not worth the ticket price, but if you're interested in the history of Istanbul, or if you like playing games and reading novels, the cistern is definitely worth a look. Here's a bit of history: The Basilica Cistern, known in Turkish as Yerebatan Sarnıcı, which means 'Subterranean Cathedral', was one of the sources of drinking water for the citizens of Istanbul 1500 years ago. It was built beneath a basilica, hence its name, initially constructed by Emperor Constantine and rebuilt and expanded by Emperor Justinian after the Nika riots of 532. Historical records indicate that 7,000 slaves were involved in the construction of the cistern. The expansion of the cistern provided a filtration system for Constantinople and other buildings on the First Hill, and continued to supply water to the Topkapi Palace after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 until modern times. During the Ottoman rule, it was renovated twice, once by architect Mehmet Aga under the command of Ahmet Sultan III in 1723. Another major renovation was completed during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876-1909) in the 19th century. In the Republican period, it was renovated again between 1985-1987, with 50,000 tons of mud used to fill the walkways and platforms, and it was opened for local and foreign visitors to explore. It underwent another cleaning and renovation in May 1994. The ceiling is supported by 336 marble columns, arranged in 12 rows of 28, each 9 meters high and spaced 4.8 meters apart. The roof is supported by the columns through arches that distribute the weight. Of these, 98 are in the Corinthian style, while the rest are in the Doric style.