Corridoio Vasariano
Giorgio Vasari built this enclosed elevated passageway in just five months in 1565 so that Cosimo I de' Medici could walk from the Palazzo Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti without setting foot on a public street — or risking assassination. It runs above the Ponte Vecchio's jewellers' shops and through the walls of buildings most tourists never notice, and it is lined with over a thousand self-portrait
The route and what you see
The corridor begins inside the Uffizi, crosses the Ponte Vecchio at first-floor level (look through the oval windows cut into the bridge parapet — they are called occhi, eyes), passes through the church of Santa Felicita where you can peer down at Pontormo's Deposition altarpiece, and ends in the Boboli Gardens.
The self-portrait collection lining the walls is one of the largest in the world and includes works by Velázquez, Delacroix and Ingres — artists who sent their likenesses to Florence as a mark of prestige.
Visiting in 2024–2025
The Corridoio reopened to the public after a long restoration in 2024; access is via a dedicated timed-entry ticket sold through the Uffizi booking system and numbers are strictly limited to preserve the experience.
Tours are guided and last approximately 75 minutes; the narrow passageway and low lighting make it unsuitable for anyone with severe claustrophobia, but for everyone else it is one of the most atmospheric hours available in Florence.
More of Florence
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Florence →
