A Secret Path Above Florence Reopens After Years of Silence
There is a place in Florence that doesn’t seek attention. It’s not on the covers of guidebooks, and yet—once you discover it—you’ll never see the city the same way again. The Vasari Corridor, Florence’s legendary hidden walkway, has quietly reopened on December 21, 2024, after years of restoration.
This secret passageway begins inside the Uffizi Gallery, crosses the iconic Ponte Vecchio, and ends in the peaceful embrace of the Boboli Gardens. It is a breathtaking and quiet journey through art, architecture, and power.
What Is the Vasari Corridor?
Built in 1565 by Giorgio Vasari for Cosimo I de’ Medici, this elevated passageway allowed the Medici family to move discreetly between their residence at Palazzo Pitti and the center of government at Palazzo Vecchio. It was a private route—a path of power—hidden in plain sight above the busy streets of Florence.
Today, the Vasari Corridor no longer belongs to rulers, but to curious travelers. It has become a special, ticketed museum experience, offering visitors a literal walk through history.
You won’t find its entrance unless you’re really looking. A modest doorway tucked away in a quiet corner of the Uffizi—one I had passed by many times without noticing. Maybe it was the rush of the day, or the comfortable illusion of familiarity that blinded me. But now I know: next time, I’ll search for it. And not just search—I’ll step through.
Because I want to see Florence the way the Medici once did: from above, hidden, and yet all-seeing. And maybe then, I too will see this city differently—this wonder that I’m still learning to fall in love with, over and over again.