Basilica Cistern recreated in Budapest for film set

To shoot the action scenes of "Inferno," the screen adaptation of Dan Brown's latest blockbuster novel, the Basilica Cistern has been recreated in a Budapest-based film set in order to protect the historical building's architecture and pillars. After "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons," the adventure continues with "Inferno," scheduled to be released next year.

Filming commenced in Istanbul's historical peninsula a while ago. The Basilica Cistern, a highly popular tourist attraction in Istanbul, broke visitor record's after Brown's novel was published. During the previous summer the number of tourists visiting one of the world's largest ancient cisterns doubled. Brown paid a field visit before the filming stage. In his book, the famous author presents the story of an evil scientist that wants to destroy humankind. Starting in Florence, the story continues in Istanbul. The action in the book's last 100 pages take place in Istanbul and the Basilica Cistern and the Hagia Sophia are introduced as key place where readers solve the mystery.