The Medici's Secrets: VASARI CORRIDOR & PITTI ROYAL PALACE

Discover the Palace that celebrated the Grandeur of the MEDICI family. The sumptuous Palatine Gallery & the magnificent Royal Apartments where the Grand Dukes of Tuscany (and later the King of Italy) lived. And learn the secrets of the Vasari Corridor

Description

Discover the Palace that celebrated the Grandeur of the MEDICI family. The sumptuous Palatine Gallery & the magnificent Royal Apartments where the Grand Dukes of Tuscany (and later the King of Italy) lived. And learn all the secrets of the incredible Vasari Corridor, the Medici family's enclosed passageway that allowed them to move freely and safely from one side of the old town to the other.

Pitti Palace was built in the second half of the 15th century probably on a project of Filippo Brunelleschi for a member of the rich florentine Pitti family, but was unfinished at his death in 1472. The original building was then purchased in 1550 by Eleonora da Toledo, the wife of the Grand Duke Cosimo I de'Medici, to make it the official Medici family residence. For this reason it was changed and much widened, by one of Renaissance greatest architects: Giorgio Vasari.
The grandeur of the palace should reflect the power and influence of the Medici family, one of the dynasties that more contributed to art in all of of Western world history: the artistic masterpieces, philosophical thinking and political achievements of Renaissance are mainly to be reconducted to the Medici. Their will of power was second only to their will of showing this power, by surrounding themselves with the best artists of that period and their artworks.
During the centuries, Pitti Palace was again widened and enriched with baroque halls and artworks and also became the main residence for the King of Italy (thus the name Royal Palace).
Vasari also designed and built an enclosed, almost 1-km long, secret passageway that connected Pitti Palace with Palazzo Vecchio (the Town Hall), in order for the Medici family to be able to move freely and with no risks between their residence and the political power offices: the Vasari Corridor. With an in-depth explanation by a professional guide, uncover the Vasari Corridor story and secrets as you walk along its path from the outside, cutting the old town and experiencing the same perspective of the Medici family's enemies trying to follow and track the Grand Duke's movements inside the passageway.
With this tour, entering Pitti Palace, you will then visit the sumptuous Palatine Gallery, with its magnificent baroque rooms housing the Medici's own private collection of more than 500 artworks (including the world largest collection of Raffaello's artworks, and others by Tiziano, Botticelli, Caravaggio and many more).
With your guide you will then discover the Royal Apartments: a suite of 14 rooms, formerly used by the Medici family, and lived in by their successors and then the Italian Royal family (Savoy). While a few of the rooms boast Empire style decorations (later implemented by the Savoy royal family), there are still some rooms maintaining the original decorations and furniture from the age of the Medici.

Inclusions

• English Speaking Licensed Guide
• Vasari Corridor discovery walking tour
• PITTI Palace entrance tickets (Palatine Gallery & Royal Apartments) and guided visit
• Earphones for groups over 12 pax

Meeting Point

FLORENCETOWN TOURS & NEWS STAND - Piazza della Repubblica (next to the APPLE STORE under the loggias, corner with Via Pellicceria) - Florence - SEE ON MAP

Notes

Please let us know in advance any special need or impaired mobility of the clients and we will do our best to accomodate them.
Even with the skip-the-line entrance, there is still a compulsory security check which may cause some delays in entering the museum.
Big bags, liquid bottles and large umbrellas will not be allowed inside the museums (ok small foldable umbrellas).
Once the tour is finished, clients can remain inside the museum if they want to keep visiting it on their own

Rain Policy

This tour runs rain or shine.