Commissioned by Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1565, the Vasari Corridor was designed by Giorgio Vasari. Spanning nearly a kilometer, it winds its way through the Uffizi Gallery, over the Ponte Vecchio, and above the streets of Florence, completely hidden from the public eye.
The corridor served a very practical purpose: it allowed the ruling Medici to move freely and safely between their workplace and home, away from potential enemies or political unrest.
Today, after an 8-year restoration, it has reopened, allowing visitors to walk the very path once reserved for Florence’s most powerful family.