Spotlight on Famous Film Locations from "Inferno" – Istanbul Edition

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Following the previous introduction to Italy, this time we’re featuring Istanbul in Turkey. Flying from Italy to Istanbul marks the final stop of Professor Langdon’s adventure. This world city straddling Europe and Asia once served as the imperial capital of the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Latin Empire, and Ottoman Empire, exerting profound influence on the development of Christianity and Islam. Beyond its pivotal historical and religious significance, it has also seen rich development and meaning in geography, architecture, and culture.

1. Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia boasts a history of nearly 1,500 years and is world-renowned for its massive dome, serving as an iconic example of Byzantine architecture that “changed the history of architecture.” The cathedral houses a vast collection of relics, the most distinctive of which is a 15-meter-high silver iconostasis, along with numerous carvings of Christian and Islamic symbols.

The mosaics in Hagia Sophia are remarkably ornate. These frescoes depict the Virgin Mary, Jesus, saints, emperors, empresses, and other purely decorative geometric mosaics.

2. Basilica Cistern
Located south of Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern is an ancient underground reservoir featuring 366 columns and is one of the largest of its kind. Built during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I between 527–565 AD, it served as one of the primary sources of drinking water for Istanbul’s residents at the time.