The Vasari Corridor Tour

Designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1565, the Vasari Corridor in Florence was built to enable the Medici family to move freely and unnoticed from their home in Palazzo Pitti to the seat of government, Palazzo Vecchio.  Closed since 2016, this is your chance to walk along the famous Corridor and view its unique collection of artwork, in the company of acclaimed art historian, Peter Higginson, who is as excited as anyone to finally see this long-closed masterpiece of Florentine, Renaissance excess that houses important sculptures and 16^th century frescoes as well as offering a unique view over the Arno River. Our five night trip will also offer the opportunity to delve into the city’s rich heritage. It was here in the 14th century that one of the pivotal cultural movements began – the Renaissance. The cultural pre-eminence of the city continued throughout the 15th and 16th centuries and is reflected in its possession of countless famous artworks to iconic architecture. We’ll investigate the art of this momentous epoch with expert Dr Peter Higginson, examining and analysing the many masterpieces that fill Florence’s museums, churches and public buildings.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Fly to Bologna. Orientation walk, lecture and dinner with wine.
Depart London for Bologna then transfer by coach to Florence for check in to our hotel in the city centre for a five night stay. This afternoon Peter will lead an orientation walk from your hotel to help you get your bearings in this beautiful city.  Evening welcome dinner with wine and talk from Peter Higginson: ‘Forming the Renaissance style; imitating Nature and the Ancients.’

Day 2: Basilica of Santa Croce, Pazzi Chapel and walk from the Ponte Vecchio to the Oltrarno and San Lorenzo.
Morning visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce where there are works by Cimabue and Giotto, and Brunelleschi’s Pazzi Chapel. In the afternoon stroll from the Ponte Vecchio through the Oltrarno quarter to the Church of Santa Maria de Carmine to enjoy Masaccio’s Brancacci Chapel and Pontormo’s Entombment on the altar of the Capponi Chapel in the Church of Santa Felicita. We finish with a visit to Brunelleschi’s Basilica of San Lorenzo to examine the exquisite Medici Chapels.

Day 3: San Marco, Palazzo Medici, and Galleria dell'Accademia.
A day of unparallelled artistic treasures today, that illustrate Florence’s status at the forefront of the Renaissance.  This morning’s first visit is to the convent of San Marco to see works by Fra Angelico before viewing Castagno’s Last Supper at Sant’ Apollonia. Continue with Gozzoli’s frescoes in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi. This afternoon we will visit the Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s David. Tonight there will be dinner with wine and a lecture: ‘From the High Renaissance to Mannerism: art, philosophy, the state, and the identity of man’.

Day 4: Laurentian Library, Uffizi Gallery and Vasari Corridor.
We start today with an early visit to Michelangelo’s Laurentian Library. Then, after a host of smaller sites on day 3, the rest of the day is devoted to one of the world’s greatest collection of art, the Uffizi. The most visited art gallery in Italy, with more than 2 million visitors per year, the Uffizi is home to countless, priceless works of art from the Renaissance including Botticelli’s uniquitous Birth of Venus and works by Titian, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio and many, many more.  Peter will be on hand to guide you through its myriad of highlights. After time for lunch (own expense), we experience the wondrous Vasari Corridor. Built by Giorgio de Vasari under orders from the Medici Duke Cosimo in 1565, the corridor connects the Palazzo Vecchio (which houses the Uffizi) with the Palazzo Pitti, crossing the Arno at the Ponte Vecchio and enabled the Medici's to walk from their gilded palace to the city centre untroubled by the city’s citizens. It offers superb views over the Arno. 

Day 5: Churches of Florence.
Today we spend time viewing some of the beautiful churches of Florence, starting at Santo Spirito where one of the most notable pieces is the Wooden Crucifix by Michelangelo. Next we visit the Santa Felicita, one of the oldest churches in Florence, dating back to the 4th century. The most famous paintings here are by Pontormo in the Barbadori-Capponi Chapel. The Vasari Corridor goes through the facade of the church, which enabled members of the Medici family to see mass through a window without being seen by those attending. After free time for lunch, our final stop is Santa Maria Novella, a masterpiece of medieval and Renaissance art. 

Day 6: Return flight to London. 
Transfer to Bologna Airport for return flight to London.

NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.

Tour Grading: This tour has been graded as demanding due to the amount of walking involved throughout the tour. All daily touring is on foot, and covers central Florence. To fit everything into this busy itinerary there will be some early morning starts. Some attractions visited may have slippery flooring, and uneven steps. There will be limited places to sit at some of the places we visit.

INCLUDED

• Return flights from London Heathrow to Bologna 
• Five nights bed and breakfast hotel accommodation in Florence, based on shared occupancy of a twin room
• Welcome reception at the hotel on the first night
• First night dinner with wine
• Two lectures at the hotel
• Third night dinner at local restaurant
• Transfers, tours and entrance fees as detailed in the itinerary
• Local guides in Florence
• Dr Peter Higginson and tour manager throughout

NOT INCLUDED

• Double for sole use supplement - from £490
• Holiday insurance 
• Meals other than those stated 
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc 
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTEL

Hotel De La Ville, Florence 

Located in the historic centre of Florence the hotel is housed within two buildings, one of which was built around 1460 with important graffiti on the facade which is still visable today and created by Andrea di Cosimo Feltrini in 1579. The hotel is very warm and charming and offers a bar with lounge for an aperitif or snack. Bedrooms are comfortable with a classic design and Florentine style. They offer en-suite bathrooms, TV, telephone, wifi, safe, air-conditioning, minibar and hairdryer. 

Hotel De La Ville Website