Turkish authorities have sealed off a luxury spa run by a five-star Istanbul hotel that was set up by illegally modifying a 1,500-year-old cistern, officials told AFP on Monday.
The Navitas Spa Sarnic is operated by the Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul hotel, which is part of Hilton’s luxury Curio Collection that currently offers top-price suites for around $400 per night.
The hotel, just a short walk from the Hagia Sofia, a UNESCO World Heritage site, modified the ancient structure to include a jacuzzi-style swimming pool, sauna and massage rooms and a Turkish hammam.
The revelations about the work sparked an…
