THE GREAT BEAUTY: PRIVATE TOUR TO DISCOVER THE VASARI CORRIDOR AND THE UFFIZI GALLERY

Take part in this exclusive experience and become one of the first visitors in years to explore the 750-metre elevated passageway designed by Giorgio Vasari in the 16th century. This remarkable architectural route links Palazzo Vecchio with Palazzo Pitti, winding through the historic cityscape, around medieval tower houses, beside ancient churches, and directly across the iconic Ponte Vecchio.

The entrance to the Vasari Corridor is located within the Uffizi Gallery, making the first part of your private experience a visit to one of the world’s most renowned art museums. Established in 1560 under the direction of Cosimo I de’ Medici, the Uffizi originally served as offices for Florence’s most important magistracies before becoming the extraordinary art gallery we know today in 1769.

Your private expert guide will lead you through the museum’s bright and elegant galleries, introducing you to masterpieces spanning the Middle Ages through the late Renaissance. Admire works by some of the greatest names in Italian art, including Giotto, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.

Among the highlights are celebrated masterpieces such as Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera,” Michelangelo’s “Tondo Doni,” and Leonardo da Vinci’s “Annunciation.” With the insight of your private guide, discover the essential highlights and artistic treasures of the Uffizi during an approximately two-hour visit.

Before continuing, enjoy a short pause on the Uffizi terrace, where you can admire Piazza della Signoria and panoramic views across Florence from above.

Then comes the long-awaited highlight: the doors of the Vasari Corridor open exclusively for your visit, revealing one of the most fascinating architectural secrets of the Cradle of the Renaissance.

Commissioned by Cosimo I de’ Medici and designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1565, the elevated passage was created to provide the Medici rulers with a secure and private route between their residence at Palazzo Pitti and the seat of government at Palazzo Vecchio, avoiding the busy streets of Florence.

During the visit, your guide will not be permitted to provide commentary inside the Corridor, but will indicate its most remarkable viewpoints and ingenious architectural features. Along the 750-metre route, enjoy exclusive perspectives over Florence and the Ponte Vecchio, discover an original medieval tower house incorporated into the structure, and pass through the Church of Santa Felicita.

The Corridor’s construction presented several challenges, particularly when the Mannelli family refused to allow the demolition of their tower house. Vasari therefore devised an ingenious solution, designing the passage to curve around the existing structure rather than destroy it.

The walk through the Corridor lasts approximately 30 minutes and leads you towards the Boboli Gardens, allowing you to follow a historic route once reserved for the Medici family, away from the busiest areas of the city.

Your visit concludes near the Buontalenti Fountain, an exceptional example of Mannerist artistry where architecture, sculpture, and decorative design come together.

After exiting, continue with your private guide on a scenic walk back towards Piazza della Signoria, following the exterior of the Vasari Corridor and gaining another perspective of this extraordinary architectural masterpiece.

Discover Florence from above and beneath its layers of history, combining world-class art, Medici heritage, ingenious architecture, and exclusive views in one unforgettable private experience.