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“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 (Old Bridge). 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 Gran 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. 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.” – Wikipedia
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This is fantastic, Belacqua….
I have been there, and it is worth a visit!!!!
Did you know that the Ally Forces are thought to have passed from here in 1945, as Germans had saved Ponte Vecchio from bombing… so it was a perfect secret passage!! This way they passed the river Arno and moved North…
Possibly a legend, I don’t know…
Oh dear, Belacqua you know more than us about Florence, don’t you? :)
Haha, well, as stated, the description is just taken from Wikipedia (abridged).
I heard about the WWII anecdote, don’t know much about the truth, though. Obviously Gerhard Wolf, who was the German consul in Florence at that time, did a lot to save Florence from Allied bombing, among other things by accomplishing that it be declared “città aperta”. (BTW: Wolf was nominated honorary citizen of Florence in 1955 and there should be a memorial tablet on Ponte Vecchio). But it seems that after German forces destroyed most bridges in Florence they though the demolition of Ponte Vecchio was not necessary and undue given its historical importance (plus Hitler admired it on his 1938 visit). German forces did however destroy several renaissance palaces in the area to block all access routes to Ponte Veccio. Wolf was quoted as being in doubt whether the conservation of Ponte Vecchio balances the destruction of all those palaces.
Yes but the single fact that you chose to add the Corridoio Vasariano tells a lot about your knowledge… wow, I am impressed…
I heard about the anecdote too. I think there is some truth. Definitely Wolf is honorary citizen as far as I know!
Belacqua next honorary citizen? lol
If this would allow me to finally see the inside of Corridoio Vasariano I’d say: start the petition! :D
Hehehe it’s actually simpler, we’ll reserve a visit online!
;D
Belacqua for ‘Sindaco’!! (Mayor)
:)