Exploring the Historic Vasari Corridor Florence

January 26, 2025

The Vasari Corridor Florence has finally reopened after years of closure, but what is it and why is everyone so excited to visit?

vasari corridor on ponte vecchio external view

Stretching across the top of Ponte Vecchio, the Vasari Corridor is now open for visitors after years of being closed - read on to find out how to visit it

I was lucky enough to walk along the newly opened space early in January 2025, so keep reading to discover what to expect and why you should add the Vasari Corridor to your Florence itinerary.

Everything you need to know about the Vasari Corridor

The Vasari Corridor was originally built for the Medici family (as so many of Florence's central buildings were) and stretches across the Ponte Vecchio.

Connecting Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace via the Uffizi Gallery, it was once home to some of the self-portraits in the Uffizi collection.

The new set-up allows visitors to walk along the historic corridor, admiring the unique perspective the windows offer of Florence's historic center.

vasari corridor long view of ponte vecchio

Seeing the Ponte Vecchio and beyond from the windows of the Vasari Corridor is an awesome experience!

If you'd like to learn more and discover how to visit for yourself, in this guide I'll be covering:

The history of the Vasari Corridor Florence

In 1549 Cosimo I de'Medici purchased the Pitti Palace and surrounding land.

This was to allow him and his family to move out of their current home, Palazzo Vecchio, into something more modern.

Cosimo hired the architect Giorgio Vasari to completely overhaul the palace.

Vasari added a huge extension and worked on many elements within the building, but initially the Medici family were still primarily living in Palazzo Vecchio.

Palazzo Vecchio was the home of the Medici family before they moved into Palazzo Pitti

In 1565 Cosimo asked Vasari to build him a passageway.

This would connect Palazzo Pitti to Palazzo Vecchio (the political heart of Florence) and his new Uffizi, 'offices', which were originally built to house various offices for people running the city.

Cosimo had only recently become the first Grand Duke of Florence, replacing the earlier republic, and was cautious of being in public too much.

He wanted to make the move to the Pitti Palace but was reluctant to do so without a safe and easy way to get from his home to the political buildings in the center.

Construction of the Vasari Corridor

Vasari designed and built the kilometer long corridor (named for him) in only 5 months, an exceptional feat for the time considering the amount of work involved.

First there was the problem of the Ponte Vecchio, which at this time was home to butchers and tanners.

The combined smell of animals, blood, urine and meat was overwhelming even by the standards of the day and Cosimo did not want to deal with that every time he or his family needed to get across the river!

He decreed that all of this should go, inviting goldsmiths and jewellers to take over the prime retail space instead after the Ponte Vecchio was cleaned up.

The jewellery shops on Ponte Vecchio today owe their excellent position to Cosimo I

The next problem was that there were a number of medieval towers that were part of the Ponte Vecchio structure, originally built as defensive towers.

Most of the owners allowed Cosimo to demolish their buildings to make way for the new corridor but one family, the Mannelli's, refused.

Vasari had to therefore place his passageway to go around this tower, which still stands today.

mannelli tower and vasari corridor external view

From the street below you can see how the Vasari Corridor (the yellow-toned section with round windows) has to go around the Mannelli Tower

Cosimo wanted it to be ready for the wedding celebrations of his son Francesco to Joanna of Austria in December 1565.

This was in part to be able to show off to the many royal and wealthy guests, so Vasari was on a tight deadline.

Despite the many obstacles in his way, Vasari delivered on time.

Later use of the Vasari Corridor Florence

The Medici family continued to use the corridor as their own private route across the river until they died out in the 1700's.

The Uffizi had been used as an art gallery by the family for a long time.

It was therefore a natural step to open it to the public when the last Medici, Anna Maria Luisa, passed away.

In 1769 the Uffizi Gallery was inaugurated and has been open in some form ever since.

The Vasari Corridor itself was initially blocked off to stop people getting in the Pitti Palace from the Uffizi.

In later years it was used as an extension of the galleries, particularly in the 1970's when the self-portrait collection was moved to the corridor.

The long walls of the Vasari Corridor made it a very attractive space for the gallery curators in the 1970's

During World War II Florence was bombed and some damage was caused to the area all around the Ponte Vecchio.

The bridge and Vasari Corridor was saved from significant damage however thanks to Italian dictator Mussolini's wish to impress Adolf Hitler.

Hitler was planning to visit Florence in 1939 and Mussolini ordered the original windows along the Vasari Corridor to be replaced with larger openings, which would provide more impressive views.

Hitler was suitably impressed and was later said to have told his forces to avoid bombing this bridge when the Germans were retreating.

The Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Florence not to have been damaged as part of their retreat so maybe the story is true, but whatever the reason, I'm thankful this precious piece of Florentine history was preserved!

The other bridges you can see from the Vasari Corridor are modern reconstructions as they were all damaged by the Nazi's to make it difficult for the Allied Forces to get across the river

More damage was done to the corridor in 1993 when a bomb placed by the Sicilian Mafia in retribution for the arrest of their boss went off near the entrance to the Uffizi.

Some of the paintings on display were destroyed and parts of the Vasari Corridor had to be rebuilt, but the damage was able to be repaired.

The closure of the Vasari Corridor and reopening

Up until 2016 the Vasari Corridor was only accessible to small tour groups, not regular visitors to the Uffizi Gallery, with most windows covered up to protect the paintings on display.

There was already talk of a reorganization and review of how the Vasari Corridor would operate when a failed fire safety assessment forced an immediate closure to visitors in 2016.

This started a long project to both ensure the corridor would meet modern safety standards and to create a more accessible space for visitors.

The new lighting and safety features are just one element of the renovations that have been done

At one point the proposed vision was to have ancient sculptures on display rather than paintings, along with information about the key points in the corridor's history, but later it was decided to restore the corridor to its original status.

As well as adding accessibility-friendly elements, fire exits were created and a new system of controlling the heat and air installed.

All the windows were uncovered and the original terracotta flooring was painstakingly reinstated.

December 2024 marked the official reopening, 8 years after closing, and now visitors can see the Vasari Corridor Florence without restriction.

What there is to see inside the Vasari Corridor

Before the Vasari Corridor closed for renovations in 2016, it was filled with self-portraits from the Uffizi collection, but now those have been moved into the main galleries.

If you take the slightly longer route to reach the entrance you will see this fascinating collection with portraits from the 17th century to modern day.

I love the portrait collection in the Uffizi, it's quite a contrast to the artwork on display in the upper level

Now the corridor does not have any artworks inside it, the focus is very much on the views and unique perspective of Florence.

Staff members will escort you along the corridor but are not guides and there are no information boards, so I advise you to do a little research before you go to understand what you are seeing.

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Views from the Vasari Corridor

As you walk through the Vasari Corridor there are many windows for you to look out of.

The first section gives you great views of the Ponte Vecchio and the corridor running on top of the stores there.

At the start of the experience you will get a superb view of how the Vasari Corridor weaves across Florence

Then you will get to the section that crosses the bridge, with views on the left of the Arno river and on the right looking down on the shops and people.

Make sure to go to both sides as you walk through the corridor to see both perspectives.

I loved looking down on people shopping and walking over the bridge, as well as the details of the other buildings on the Ponte Vecchio.

ponte vecchio rooftops through vasari corridor window

You can't see these details of the buildings on Ponte Vecchio from street level, so it was really interesting to see them from the elevated position of the corridor

When you reach the other side of the river Arno, the perspective changes slightly.

This makes it feel like you're really in a secret passageway with glimpses of rooftops, hidden terraces and narrow streets below.

Other sights in the Vasari Corridor

There are some sections where the original stonework and architectural details have been restored.

This shows how the corridor was intricately linked with many of the buildings around it.

These glimpses of old stonework really bring home how old the corridor is!

At about two thirds along the corridor there is a viewing window down into the church of Santa Felicita, one of the oldest churches in Florence.

There is a balcony here where the Medici family could sit and attend church services without having to interact with other people.

santa felicita church as seen from inside vasari corridor

Seeing the actual balcony where the Medici family would sit is a must for history-buffs

At the end of the visit you will come out at the side of the Boboli Gardens.

The Vasari Corridor continues on into Palazzo Pitti but this is not part of the visit; look up to your right when you go outside and follow the path of the corridor into the huge palace.

vasari corridor external view from boboli gardens

Up on the right you will see the rest of the Vasari Corridor connected to the Pitti Palace

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The end of the Vasari Corridor

In this courtyard at the end of the visit you'll see the huge Buontalenti Grotto which was created in the 1500's.

This is where Giambologna's beautiful 'Venus in the Bath' sculpture is located (although the grotto is closed for renovation right now).

The Buontalenti Grotto often goes overlooked because of its position, but you can't miss it after coming out of the Vasari Corridor

On the right hand side, just before you are escorted out into the courtyard of the Pitti Palace, don't miss the small fountain statue of 'Morgante on a Turtle', one of my favorite oddities in this collection.

Not a classical Greek-style work in any way, this statue depicts a small, naked, rotund man sitting on top of a turtle from whose mouth water flows into a small basin.

There is something about this little statue that stands out, make sure to see it for yourself!

This is Morgante, a court dwarf who was a favorite of Cosimo I de'Medici in the 16th century.

Born with dwarfism, he was given to the royal court by his parents in the hope his life would be better.

Cosimo asked for the sculpture to be created as Morgante was getting older, with the turtle representing the emblem of the Duchy of Florence.

There is something oddly fascinating about the statue and with it being tucked away, not many people get to see it.

How to visit the Vasari Corridor

Visiting the Vasari Corridor Florence is straightforward with the new process, but there are some key things to keep in mind when planning your trip.

Vasari Corridor Tickets

You have to purchase a combo ticket with the Uffizi Galleries, there is no way to just see the corridor.

When you book your ticket, you will choose a specific entrance time which is for entry to the Vasari Corridor.

According to the official website (and the ticket) you can go inside the Uffizi up to 2 hours before this time, but when I visited recently I was a little early and the staff still let me inside.

This was in January when Florence is at its quietest so I suspect they will be more strict with the Uffizi entrance time when the crowds start to grow.

uffizi gallery entrance courtyard quiet in january

It is not normal to see the courtyard outside the Uffizi this quiet, and this may well have been a factor in being let into the galleries early

Reduced and free admission tickets are available for certain category of visitors, and you can add on the Vasari Corridor to the 5-day Passe Partout combination ticket which includes entrance to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens.

If you don't have a ticket that includes the wider access, at the end of the Vasari Corridor visit you will be escorted out to the main courtyard of the Pitti Palace.

When booking you will need to add the specific names of every member of your group for each ticket.

The tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable so don't book them before you are certain of your timings and participants.

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Entering the Vasari Corridor

When you go inside the Uffizi, everyone is directed up to the second floor to start their visit.

The entrance to the Vasari Corridor is on the first floor so at a minimum you will need to walk around most of the second floor before reaching the stairs and elevators to go down a floor.

This means you will see some of the most special and interesting pieces of art in the Uffizi, and I recommend giving yourself the full 2 hours so you aren't rushing!

botticelli venus painting in uffizi gallery with people in front

Make sure to give yourself at least 45 minutes to get through the Uffizi to the Vasari Corridor entrance, longer if you want to admire masterpieces like Botticelli's Venus

The Vasari Corridor entrance is clearly marked, and there are bathrooms nearby.

There is a small waiting area, you will need to be there about 10 minutes before to allow the staff to check the names and times before entering the corridor.

This is where you need to arrive around 10 minutes before your booked time slot

They do a roll call and check IDs for each ticket, not just the lead booker, so make sure you have this with you.

If you miss your time slot then you will not be allowed to access the corridor later.

I saw a couple try to get into my group but their tickets were for an hour earlier so they were refused.

Practical Information

The visit starts at the Uffizi and ends at the Pitti Palace, so if you have dropped anything at the Uffizi Gallery cloakroom you will have to walk back there to collect it.

I strongly recommend not bringing large bags or umbrellas that have to be checked in general, but especially for the Vasari Corridor experience.

You are not allowed to carry large bags or umbrellas in the Uffizi or Vasari Corridor, so that you don't damage anything when you're looking out of the windows

It's not a long walk back but why fight through the crowds at the Uffizi to get your bags when you could visit the Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti, or wander through the Santo Spirito neighborhood at your leisure!

The Vasari Corridor is accessibility-friendly, with wheelchair access and courtesy wheelchairs and walkers available for people with limited mobility.

The Vasari Corridor has been set up to be fully accessible for all visitors

The Vasari Corridor should absolutely be on your Florence itinerary.

Being able to walk across the Ponte Vecchio and see the city of Florence from a totally different perspective is a really fun and interesting thing to do so don't miss out, book today!

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Exploring the Historic Vasari Corridor Florence

Everything you need to know about the Vasari Corridor