Vasari Corridor

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Image:Florence Ponte Veccio Vasari Corridor.jpg

Vasari's tile-roofed Corridoio running from the Uffizi (right) across the Ponte vecchio on its way to link Palazzo Pitti

The Vasari Corridor (Italian: Corridoio Vasariano) is an elevated path in Florence which connects Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, passing over the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio.

1 History and overview
2 Gallery
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History and overview

The Vasari Corridor was built in 5 months by order of Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici in 1565, under design by Giorgio Vasari. The work was commissioned in connection with the marriage of Cosimo's son, Francesco, with Johanna of Austria.

Image:Firenze.Arno.jpg

AReverse view of the section of the Corridoio, seen from Ponte Vecchio.

The idea of an elevated path was motivated by the Grand Duke's exigence to move freely from their residence to the government palace, in a city in which his new consensus was not so solid after the abolition of the Republic of Florence. The meat market of Ponte Vecchio was moved to avoid the Grand Duke its smell at the passage, its place being taken by the goldsmith shops that still occupy the bridge. At the latter extremity, the corridor was forced to pass around the Mannelli's Tower, after the staunch opposition of that family to its destruction.

In the middle of Ponte Vecchio the corridor is characterized by a series of panoramic windows facing the Arno, in direction of the Ponte Santa Trinita. These replaced the smaller windows of the original construction in 1939, by order of Benito Mussolini.

After the Ponte Vecchio the Corridor passes over the loggiato of the church of Santa Felicita: in the at point it had a balcony, protected by a thick railing, facing the interior of the church, in order to allow the Grand Duke family to follow the celebrations without mixing with the populace.

In its Uffizi trait the Vasari Corridor is used as exhibition of the Portrait Gallery of the Museum collection.

[edit] Gallery

Depart Corridor Vasari.jpg Beginning in Palazzo Vecchio.	Corridoio Vasariano, arco.JPG Passage over Via della Ninna and entrance in the Uffizi.	Galleria degli Uffizi.jpg Passage in the galleries of Uffizi's uppermost floor.	Corridoio Vasariano, passaggio.JPG Exit from the Uffizi.
Corridoio Vasariano, volte.JPG Covered passage on the Lung'arno towards Ponte Vecchio.	Corridoio vasariano 01.JPG Exterior view of the Corridor on the Lungarno degli Archibugieri.	Corridoio Vasariano, curva.JPG Curve on the Ponte Vecchio.	FirenzePonteVecchioDetail.jpg Passage over the Arno on Ponte Vecchio.
Ponte Vecchio, torre de' Mannelli.JPG Turn around at the Mannelli Tower.	Corridoio Vasariano, arco 3.JPG Passage over Lungarno Torrigiani.	Santafelicita.jpg Passage over the church of Santa Felicita.	Santa Felicita, inside back.JPG Balcony in Santa Felicita.
Firenze-boboligrotta.jpg Passage on the left of the Grotta del Buontalenti.	Corridoio Vasariano, pitti.JPG Arrival in Palazzo Pitti.