Vasari Corridor
Vasari Corridor features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Florence. Give it roughly ~90 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~90 min
- Florence Florence guide
About Vasari Corridor
The secret elevated walkway built in 1565 connecting the Uffizi to the Pitti Palace over the Ponte Vecchio, hung with over 700 self-portraits, the private passage of the Medici Grand Dukes.
The Vasari Corridor is a private elevated passageway designed by Giorgio Vasari and built in just five months in 1565 for Cosimo I de' Medici. Stretching approximately one kilometre from the Palazzo Vecchio through the Uffizi, along the south wall of the building to the Ponte Vecchio, across the river on the bridge's eastern side, through the Mannelli tower (which refused to allow demolition), and on to the Pitti Palace, the corridor allowed the Medici Grand Dukes to travel between their palace and the seat of government without setting foot on public streets.
The corridor later became a gallery for the Medici collection of self-portraits, a genre invented by the Medici and collected by Cardinal Leopoldo de' Medici from the mid-17th century. The collection grew to include works by Raphael, Titian, Velázquez, Rembrandt, Rubens, and hundreds of others. After decades of closure for restoration, the corridor reopened in 2024 with a new visitor experience.
Did you know? Vasari built the entire one-kilometre corridor in just five months in 1565, he needed it ready for the wedding of Cosimo I's son Francesco to Joanna of Austria.
How long is a visit to Vasari Corridor?
Set aside roughly ~90 min for Vasari Corridor. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Vasari Corridor worth your time?
Vasari Corridor is among the 42 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Florence, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Florence
Hear the story of Vasari Corridor
Preview the Florence tour free in the Gingerguide app.