Not every city has a huge Roman aqueduct running through it! And it's a free attraction, too! This impressive limestone aqueduct was completed in 378AD and was part of a complex system bringing drinking water into Constantinople. It fed cisterns in the city and was in use up to the 19th century. The system is one of the greatest hydraulic engineering feats of ancient times. Today traffic runs under 4 of its arches.

This is worth a visit if you have long enough in Istanbul, it has been restored although could do with some further improvements. Having been to Pont du Gard in France where you can walk along the top and it’s more scenic, this would benefit from this type of improvement to enhance the experience. Nevertheless, it’s quite beautiful and I was pleased I had the time to see it.

The first time we attempted to get to the Valens Aqueduct we got stuck when we tried to access it from Sarachane Park. While this does give views of the aqueduct if you actually want to get close and through it you need to cross Hasim Iscan / Ataturk Blvd into Fatih Memorial Park (the one with the flying horse). Then it is simple. As a bonus there are some colourful market shops (spices, cheeses and butchers) and some nice restaurants a little way beyond the aqueduct on the other side. The aqueduct is quite impressive from a distance and towers above you as you traverse underneath. The fact that it spans a major highway and is nestled in amongst ordinary houses in the middle of Istanbul is amazing. It is still in good condition and free to visit.

An impressive example of Roman engineering! There are more impressive examples of Roman aqueducts and given the vastness of Istanbul’s archaeological treasures this one barely features, but is well worth a visit is you are interested in the city’s Roman and Byzantine history. The aqueduct is easy to walk to from Sultanahmet (c10 mins from the Grand Bazaar) and is free to see. Take a wander down, sit in the park next to it or enjoy some lunch whilst sitting under its arches.