Vasari Corridor reopens: the Uffizi's overhead tunnel accessible again Dec. 21

At last, after eight long years of closure, the Uffizi Vasari Corridor, one of Florence’s most fascinating and historic attractions, reopens in Florence : the date to be set on the calendar is December 21, 2024. This “aerial tunnel,” built in 1565 by architect Giorgio Vasari, has always had a practical purpose: to allow the city’s rulers to move safely and unseen between the Palazzo Vecchio and their residence at Palazzo Pitti, crossing the heart of the city and over the Ponte Vecchio. Today, the Corridor is ready to give visitors a unique experience, a journey through time that allows them to rediscover Renaissance Florence.

The closure of the Vasari Corridor in 2016 had been necessary to carry out work to comply with safety regulations and to proceed with extensive restoration. In fact, the last intervention dated back to the 1990s and the structure needed consolidation to ensure the safety of visitors and preserve its integrity. The work, which began in 2022, had a total cost of about 10 million euros, to which was added a million dollars donated in 2023 by U.S. entrepreneur Skip Avansino. The goal of the restoration was not only to meet safety criteria, but also to return the Corridor to its original beauty, preserving the historic structure and restoring the spaces to welcome visitors in the best possible way.

The new Vasari Corridor has been completely renovated, but retains its historic charm. At more than 750 meters in length, the route allows visitors to cross the city from above, walking over the Ponte Vecchio and traversing a panoramic section that provides breathtaking views of Florence and its most iconic monuments, such as the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Boboli Gardens. In fact, the route ends at the entrance to the garden, one of the city’s most famous, with a view that immerses visitors in the timeless beauty of the Tuscan capital.

A restoration that combines art, history and modernity

The restoration required a considerable commitment in terms of time and resources: the project was unveiled in February 2019 after 18 months of studies, research, and investigations involving dozens of specialists called in to work on the project, which included more than a thousand pages of analyses and reports, 2,435 photographs, and numerous material tests. The work cost 10 million euros plus a million donated by U.S. contractor Skip Avansino, and began in 2022 and was completed in recent weeks.

The structure has been consolidated to ensure earthquake safety, and the interiors, including plaster, terracotta floors, and incannicciati, have been restored, restoring the charm of the Corridor as it appeared in the late 16th century. Low-energy LED lighting was installed to ensure optimal illumination throughout the route, while a video surveillance system and the integration of ramps and elevators made the route accessible to all, including visitors with disabilities.

A key aspect of the project was the creation of new safety exits. Five new exits were provided along the route, including one in Oltrarno, after Ponte Vecchio, and one in the Cortile delle Cacce of the Boboli Gardens, to ensure rapid evacuation in case of emergency. These operations were carried out so as not to compromise the historic integrity of the structure, combining innovation and respect for the past.

A unique experience for visitors

From December 21, 2024, visitors will be able to walk the Vasari Corridor with a special ticket that also allows entry to the Uffizi Gallery. The total price for the ticket is 43 euros, and reservations are required. The visit to the Vasari Corridor will be limited in duration, with a maximum of 25 people per group, and access will be allowed only in one direction, from the Uffizi to the Boboli Gardens. The route will start from the second floor of the Uffizi Gallery, accessed from the Venetian Chapel area, and end at the exit of the Pitti Palace.

The Vasari Corridor will be open Tuesday through Sunday, with admission times ranging from 10:15 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. for the last group. To ensure an exclusive experience, visitor groups will be accompanied by two staff members, who will provide information and assist during the tour. The Uffizi-Vasarian ticket also includes early entry to the Uffizi, allowing those who book to visit the museum before walking the Corridor. The Corridor can only be walked in the Uffizi-Boboli direction: you will exit through the door next to the Buontalenti Cave and will then be escorted to the exit from the courtyard of the Pitti Palace. It will not be possible to book more than five tickets at a time, even for different dates. On the ticket there will also be a link to the map with the route to reach the access gate to the Corridor, while a QR code to view it has also been included in the signage set up in the Gallery.

“Keeping a commitment made to citizens the day after its inauguration, the Vasari Corridor will reopen to the public by the end of 2024,” says Simone Verde, director of the Uffizi. “For the Uffizi Complex, this is a moment of strategic importance that allows it to mend, also in its usability, the unity of its monumental and collecting history. From December 21, in fact, visitors who wish to do so will be able to go from one side of the Arno to the other, appreciating in all its sprawling expanse the vastness, coherence and richness of the Medici citadel of power and the arts. This opening, in fact, goes hand in hand with the systematic work of museum redevelopment and recomposition that is underway and which sees care concentrated at the same level on both the Vasari complex of the Uffizi and Boboli and Palazzo Pitti.”

Vasari Corridor reopens: the Uffizi's overhead tunnel accessible again Dec. 21

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