As described by Western visitors before 1453, such as the Córdoban nobleman Pero Tafur and the Florentine geographer Cristoforo Buondelmonti,G. Gerola, "Le vedute di Costantinopoli di Cristoforo Buondemonti," SBN 3 (1931): 247–79. the church was in a dilapidated state, with several of its doors fallen from their hinges. Mehmed II ordered a renovation of the building. Mehmed attended the first Friday prayer in the mosque on 1 June 1453.Mamboury (1953), p. 288. Aya Sofya became the first imperial mosque of Istanbul.Necipoĝlu (2005), p. 13 Most of the existing houses in the city and the area of the future Topkapı Palace were endowed to the corresponding waqf. From 1478, 2,360 shops, 1,300 houses, 4 caravanserais, 30 boza shops, and 23 shops of sheep heads and trotters gave their income to the foundation.Boyar & Fleet (2010), p. 145 Through the imperial charters of 1520 (AH 926) and 1547 (AH 954), shops and parts of the Grand Bazaar and other markets were added to the foundation.
As described by Western visitors before 1453, such as the Córdoban nobleman. Pero Tafur and the Florentine geographer Cristoforo Buondelmonti,G. Gerola, "Le vedute di Costantinopoli di Cristoforo Buondemonti," SBN 3 (1931): 247–79. the church was in a dilapidated state, with several of its doors fallen from their hinges. Mehmed II ordered a renovation of the building Mehmed attended the first Friday prayer in the mosque on 1 June 1453.Mamboury (1953), p. 288. Aya Sofya became the first imperial mosque of Istanbul.Necipoĝlu (2005), p. 13 Most of the existing houses in the city and the area of the future Topkapı Palace were endowed to the corresponding waqf. From 1478, 2,360 shops, 1,300 houses 4 caravanserais, 30 boza shops, and 23 shops of sheep heads and trotters gave their income to the foundation.Boyar & Fleet (2010), p. 145 Through the imperial charters of 1520 (AH 926) and 1547 (AH 954), shops and pa,rts of the Grand Bazaar and other markets were added to the foundation.