The Corridoio Vasariano, a once clandestine passageway for Florence's elite, has now been unveiled to the public for the first time in its storied history. This exclusive walkway, more akin to a private trail traversing the heart of Florence, was crafted in 1565 by the artist and architect Giorgio Vasari for the influential Medici family. Spanning an impressive 750 meters (2,460 feet), this architectural marvel was commissioned in a mere five months by Cosimo I de’ Medici, linking three of Florence's most iconic landmarks: the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Galleries, and the Palazzo Pitti, which served as the family's residence. The passage facilitated the Medici's discreet movement between their home and the seat of power, shielded from the prying eyes of the populace and potential threats from adversaries.

Today, this "secret" route offers a unique perspective on some of Florence's most renowned locales, with stunning vistas that bypass the usual throngs. As tourists congest the Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge adorned with shops, those within the corridor will glide serenely above, relishing the same panoramic city views devoid of the accompanying chaos. The corridor's elevated vantage point, situated atop buildings, palaces, and towers, including the Ponte Vecchio itself, affords these unparalleled views.

The primary section of the corridor, extending from the Uffizi to the Boboli Gardens adjacent to Palazzo Pitti, welcomed its first public visitors recently. For centuries, this was the exclusive domain of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, with even their staff forbidden from entering. In more recent times, it was accessible to those who could afford the exorbitant fees for such privilege, but it was closed in 2016 due to health and safety concerns. Now, for a fee of 20 euros, visitors are guided in groups of 25, with pauses for photographic moments along the way.

The journey commences on the second floor of the Uffizi, where a door leads down 58 steps into a fresco-adorned, high-ceilinged chamber. From this point, it descends further into the corridor—a covered walkway paved with terracotta bricks, featuring porthole windows overlooking the streets to one side and large square windows every few feet on the other, providing views of the Arno River. The corridor then traverses the top of the Ponte Vecchio, with a set of panoramic windows added midway by Benito Mussolini, who once escorted Adolf Hitler through this passage. Hitler later spared the Ponte Vecchio while destroying the other bridges in Florence during World War II.

Beyond the Ponte Vecchio, the corridor encircles a medieval tower, passes through the roof of a church, and emerges into the Boboli Gardens, near the Grotta del Buontalenti, a 16th-century water feature. Visitors are then escorted to the Palazzo Pitti, where they can continue their exploration independently (with a ticket) or exit through the grand courtyard. The tour involves a total of 106 steps, though there's no need to reascend them, and stair-lifts are available for those with mobility impairments.

Uffizi director Simone Verde described the corridor as a "mythical place for the Western world," previously accessible to only a select few. He referred to it as the axis connecting the Medici's "citadel" within Florence, dubbing it a "parallel city within the city." The construction of the corridor, inspired by similar structures in Rome, underscored the Medici's emphasis on culture in their governance. "This was novel to the Renaissance—the cultural aspect of governance," Verde remarked. "The culture fostered here was the catalyst for all the courts of modern Europe." A visit to the revamped corridor, he said, "is not just a fantastic destination but a journey to a vision of the world."

While the corridor once housed over 1,000 artworks from the 18th century onwards, including an extensive collection of self-portraits, the walls now stand bare, echoing the original 1500s structure. Verde hinted at the possibility of hanging artworks within the corridor at a later date. For now, visitors can savor the city views from a vantage point once reserved for the elite, peering through the windows of hotels and offices, walking above the crowds on the Ponte Vecchio, and peek at into the church of Santa Felicita, unseen by those below, just as the Medici once did.

There are no historical panels or guided tours provided by the group escorts, so visitors interested in more than the visual splendor will need to familiarize themselves with the corridor's history prior to their visit. Tickets costing 43 euros ($45) include entry to the gallery and the corridor, with a two-hour window in the gallery before proceeding to the corridor (visitors must plan their time carefully as re-entry to the gallery is not permitted). Alternatively, visitors can pay 20 euros ($21) as an add-on to an existing Uffizi ticket, subject to availability. The first Sunday of each month offers free entry, although reservations for the upcoming months are already fully booked.