Vasari Corridor Reopens to the Public
The Vasari Corridor, closed for eight years, will finally reopen on December 21, 2024. Visitors will be able to cross the Arno and reach the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens while taking the same route the Grand Duke of Florence and his family used in the 16th century. The Vasari Corridor is the most historic passageway in the city, partly located above Ponte Vecchio. Before its closure in 2016, the collection of self-portraits by famous artists, containing approximately 2000 works, was exhibited there, but for now (until further notice), all the paintings are displayed in a special section at the Uffizi Gallery.
Since the art was relocated, the windows on the passageway will no longer be obscured, allowing the Vasari Corridor to appear as it did in the Medici family’s time. This exceptional corridor was named after its architect, Giorgio Vasari, who was commissioned by the Grand Duke of Florence to create a passage that allowed the Medici family to reach Palazzo Vecchio (the government headquarters) from Palazzo Pitti (their residence) undisturbed. Fast forwarding to the present, ramps and rest rooms for those with disabilities have been added; heating, an air conditioning unit and a LED lighting system have been installed.
In addition to the 73 small windows that illuminate the hall, in the middle of the passageway are three large windows that open westward. Italy’s Fascist ruler Benito Mussolini had them built for Hitler’s visit to Florence, to look out on the Arno River, the bridges and the Florence cityscape below with the idea of fostering a sense of conquest, and power, for both dictators.
Reservations can be made starting from Tuesday, December 10. Access to Vasari Corridor requires purchasing a ticket to the Uffizi Gallery with a special supplement, for a total price of €43. This ticket also allows visitors to tour the museum two hours before their scheduled Vasari Corridor visit. Multiple time slots for visits will be available, starting at 10:15 am, with the last entry at 4:35 pm, from Tuesday to Sunday. Each group will have a maximum of 25 people and it will not be possible to book more than five tickets at a time, even for different dates.
Tickets include a link to a map of the route to the Corridor, which can also be accessed via a QR code. Access to the Corridor will be from the area in front of the Cappellina Veneziana (Venetian painting rooms) on the first floor of the Uffizi. Visitors can take only one route through the Vasari Corridor, as it will be accessible in only one direction: from Uffizi to the Boboli Gardens. (Paulina Juzak)
