Three of the museums conducted within the body of Istanbul Culture Inc. will be open to visit throughout the Ramadan Holiday. Run by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the Basilica Cistern, the Panorama 1453 History Museum and Miniatürk are the museums which can be visited during the Ramadan Holiday.
Experiencing the biggest restoration throughout its history, the Basilica Cistern will be open for visitors between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the first day of the holiday, while visiting hours are 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. for the rest of the Ramadan Holiday. This may be a perfect opportunity for those who want to see the cistern without any water in it.
Miniatürk will be open to visit between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., while the visiting hours for the Panorama 1453 History Museum are between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the first day of the holiday, and between
10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for the rest of the holiday.
The Basilica Cistern
Located at the center of the Historical Peninsula, the Basilica Cistern was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. to be able to meet the water supply of the Great Palace. Because of the magnificence of the marble columns rising from the water, the cistern is also referred to as the "Basilica Palace" among the public.
In addition to serving as a museum, the Basilica Cistern also hosts several national and international events.
Panorama 1453
Being the one and only full panoramic museum among the approximately 30 panoramic museums in the world, the Panorama 1453 History Museum gives its visitors an opportunity to feel the live spirit of the Conquest of Istanbul thanks to a 3-D panoramic view and sound effects. Entering into the panoramic room located at the basement of the museum, visitors feel as if they are in an outdoor area rather than a closed one.
Miniatürk
Combining the architectural structures reflecting Turkey's cultural and civilizational background with their models presented, Miniatürk is referred to as "the place where the time stopped." The museum hosts 132 models of architectural structures both from Turkey and all around the world, which were designed by minimizing their original size by 1/25.
Located on an area of 60,000 square meters in total, "The Small Model of the Big Country," Miniatürk offers a huge complex to its visitors with a restaurant, cafeteria, shopping mall, open-air ring and children's playground.