Vasari Corridor Museum

Address: Vasari Corridor, from Palazzo Vecchio / Uffizi across Ponte Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy

Website: https://www.uffizi.it

Hours: Access by reservation/tour (managed by the Uffizi Museum) - hours vary by booking

Admission: Access via timed ticket or as part of Uffizi Museum visit; charges apply (check Uffizi site)

The Vasari Corridor is an elevated, enclosed passageway in central Florence that links the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi area with the Pitti Palace across the Arno. It was commissioned in the 16th century to give the ruling Medici family a secure, private route between their palaces.

A long, narrow gallery runs above city streets and crosses the river on the Ponte Vecchio; sections of the corridor contain display spaces and windows that look out over the Arno and Florence’s historic centre. The corridor is notable for its role in the urban fabric of Florence and for the view it gives over the Ponte Vecchio and riverside buildings.

Giorgio Vasari designed and built the passage in 1565 for Cosimo I de’ Medici as a private connection between government, court and residence. Over time it has housed parts of private art collections associated with the Medici and later curatorial displays tied to the Uffizi.

The corridor sits entirely within the historic centre of Florence, threading from the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi on the north bank of the Arno, across the Ponte Vecchio, to finish at the Pitti Palace on the south bank.

• Length: Around 1 kilometre in length, running roughly from the Palazzo Vecchio area across the Arno to the Pitti Palace on the south bank.
• Route: Built in the mid 16th century, the route follows a continuous elevated line above public streets and galleries, providing views over the river and central Florence.

What to See#

• Ponte Vecchio crossing: The corridor spans the space above and through parts of the Uffizi Galleries and crosses the Arno via the medieval Ponte Vecchio, forming the central crossing of the route.
• Uffizi section: The stretch that runs along and above the Uffizi Galleries links the civic seat at the Palazzo Vecchio with the riverside palaces and contains display spaces and windows overlooking the city.
• Pitti Palace terminus: The elevated passage terminates at the Pitti Palace on the south bank of the Arno, providing direct private access between Medici residences on either side of the river.

Entry is via the Uffizi or special reservations; the corridor connects the Uffizi/Palazzo Vecchio side of the river to the Palazzo Pitti over the Ponte Vecchio. Nearest public access point is the Uffizi Museum (Piazzale degli Uffizi).

• Book the Vasari Corridor tour through the Uffizi in advance - visitor numbers are strictly limited and special openings sell out fast.
• When walking the Corridor, pay attention to the mismatched windows and the view over the Ponte Vecchio - the passage was designed as a literal and visual shortcut for the Medici.
• Be quiet and respectful: the corridor is an intimate, enclosed gallery rather than a public thoroughfare.