Constantinople - The Sultan Ahmet I Mosque - The Blue Mosque, viewed from the Hippodrome. The Mosque has six minarets. Completed in 1616 - architect Mehmet Aga. For next 250 years - most Sultans chose to perform their Friday noon prayers in the Blue Mosque because of proximity to the Topkapi Palace. Close by is the Egyptian obelisk of Thutmose III (1549 - 1503 BC) - originally from Deir el Bahri opposite Thebes in Upper Egypt to commemorate campaigns in Syria. About 60m tall weighing 800 tonnes - broke during shipment to Constantinople in 4th century AD, only top 3rd survived.