Vasari Corridor
Latest update: 18 February 2024
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The Vasari Corridor is one of the more unusual monuments in Florence but quite brilliant and unmissable at the same time.
Opened in 1565, the corridor was designed by Giorgio Vasari as a means for the city's most important dignitaries to make their way around Florence without having to engage with the every day people. |
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From Palazzo Vecchio to the River Arno
The corridor spans both sides of the River Arno and passes through a number of landmark buildings along the way. From the city centre north of the river it starts in the Palazzo Vecchio, from where it's connected to the Uffizi Gallery via a small, enclosed bridge. The Uffizi section of the corridor is lined with famous self-portraits and when it reaches as far as the Arno, it turns right above a beautiful, vaulted walkway and continues along the riverbank until it reaches the Ponte Vecchio bridge.
The corridor spans both sides of the River Arno and passes through a number of landmark buildings along the way. From the city centre north of the river it starts in the Palazzo Vecchio, from where it's connected to the Uffizi Gallery via a small, enclosed bridge. The Uffizi section of the corridor is lined with famous self-portraits and when it reaches as far as the Arno, it turns right above a beautiful, vaulted walkway and continues along the riverbank until it reaches the Ponte Vecchio bridge.
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Ponte Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti
The Ponte Vecchio is one of the most famous bridges in the world and one of Florence's major visitor attractions but most people only see it from ground level where it's populated by a series of jewellery shops.
This area was once a food market but it was decided to remove that in order that the accompanying smells wouldn't assault the nostrils of the VIP pedestrians as they passed through the corridor overlooking the bridge. Adolf Hitler passed this way in 1938 as a guest of Benito Mussolini and in order to impress their guests, the authorities created a wider viewing area here to provide better lines of sight from the corridor down on to the Arno.
At the point where the Ponte Vecchio reaches the southern bank of the river, it's in the area known as Oltrarno which loosely translates as "across the Arno". The corridor continues here towards the Chiesa di Santa Felicità church which allowed the corridor's guests easy access at times of worship, and beyond this point its final destination is the Palazzo Pitti, behind which are the enormous Boboli Gardens.
The Ponte Vecchio is one of the most famous bridges in the world and one of Florence's major visitor attractions but most people only see it from ground level where it's populated by a series of jewellery shops.
This area was once a food market but it was decided to remove that in order that the accompanying smells wouldn't assault the nostrils of the VIP pedestrians as they passed through the corridor overlooking the bridge. Adolf Hitler passed this way in 1938 as a guest of Benito Mussolini and in order to impress their guests, the authorities created a wider viewing area here to provide better lines of sight from the corridor down on to the Arno.
At the point where the Ponte Vecchio reaches the southern bank of the river, it's in the area known as Oltrarno which loosely translates as "across the Arno". The corridor continues here towards the Chiesa di Santa Felicità church which allowed the corridor's guests easy access at times of worship, and beyond this point its final destination is the Palazzo Pitti, behind which are the enormous Boboli Gardens.
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City: Florence
Province: Metropolitan City of Florence Region: Tuscany Opened: 1565 Walking distance from Piazza del Duomo: 10 minutes Recommended accommodation: Hotel Spadai |
