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Explore hidden corridors to piece the puzzles of Florence’s intriguing history, and the symbolic power and governance of Palazzo Vecchio through the centuries.
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- Palazzo Vecchio
- Palazzo Vecchio Courtyard
- History
- Inside
- Collections
- Palazzo Vecchio Tower
- Secret Passages
- Hall of the 500
- Uffizi Gallery
- Duomo Florence
- Accademia Gallery Tickets
- Florence To Chianti Tours
- Florence To Cinque Terre Tours
- Bargello National Museum
- Medici Chapel
- Florence To Pisa Tours
- Florence To Siena Tours
- Florence To Tuscany Tours
- Boboli Gardens
- Hzero - The Miniature Railway
- San Marco Museum
- Basilica of Santa Croce
- Brancacci Chapel
Explore the enigmatic Secret Passages of Palazzo Vecchio
Unravel Medici mysteries in corridors and rooms hidden from the public, on an exclusive tour!
- Follow an expert guide up the narrow passages of Duke Gualtieri’s medieval stairway, and through a door concealed by a painting.
- Enter an intriguing private study, and view the coffered ceiling of the ‘Hall of the 500’ from a unique perspective.
- With your skip-the-line tickets, freely walk through the rest of Palazzo Vecchio.
- Afterward, relish a three-course Tuscan lunch at a local trattoria, or a gelato tasting at one of the best ice cream stores in town.
Unravel Medici mysteries in corridors and rooms hidden from the public, on an exclusive tour!
- Follow an expert guide up the narrow passages of Duke Gualtieri’s medieval stairway, and through a door concealed by a painting.
- Enter an intriguing private study, and view the coffered ceiling of the ‘Hall of the 500’ from a unique perspective.
- With your skip-the-line tickets, freely walk through the rest of Palazzo Vecchio.
- Afterward, relish a three-course Tuscan lunch at a local trattoria, or a gelato tasting at one of the best ice cream stores in town.
Inclusions
- Skip-the-line entry to Palazzo Vecchio
- English guided tour of the secret passages
- Tuscan lunch or gelato tasting
- This experience is not accessible by wheelchair/stroller, and is not recommended for guests with mobility issues.
- Visitors must leave all umbrellas, backpacks, and large bags in the cloakroom.
- Please present a valid photo ID along with your ticket at the info point of Palazzo Vecchio.
- Until March 6, 2025, your Palazzo Vecchio tickets include entry to the "La sala grande. Giorgio Vasari per Cosimo I de’ Medici exhibition"—don’t miss it!
- You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Jump past ticket queues to Florence's grand townhall, and upgrade for an audio guide.
- Gain direct entry to elaborately furnished courtyards, halls filled with Renaissance masterpieces, and lavish apartments once occupied by the Medici family.
- With an optional audio guide, get a complete understanding as you explore all three floors of this legendary museum and seat of the Florence city council.
- See Donatello’s famed bronze sculpture of Judith assassinating the Assyrian general Holofernes, and Michelangelo’s Genius of Victory statue.
- Add on a tour of Palazzo Vecchio's mysterious secret passages and enter a door hidden behind a painting!
Jump past ticket queues to Florence's grand townhall, and upgrade for an audio guide.
- Gain direct entry to elaborately furnished courtyards, halls filled with Renaissance masterpieces, and lavish apartments once occupied by the Medici family.
- With an optional audio guide, get a complete understanding as you explore all three floors of this legendary museum and seat of the Florence city council.
- See Donatello’s famed bronze sculpture of Judith assassinating the Assyrian general Holofernes, and Michelangelo’s Genius of Victory statue.
- Add on a tour of Palazzo Vecchio's mysterious secret passages and enter a door hidden behind a painting!
Inclusions
- Skip-the-line entry to Palazzo Vecchio
- Audio guide in English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Dutch & Portuguese (as per option selected)
- Multimedia tablet (as per option selected)
- English guided tour of the secret passages (as per option selected)
Exclusions
- Headsets & mobile device
- Tip: Until March 6, 2025, your Palazzo Vecchio tickets include entry to the "La sala grande. Giorgio Vasari per Cosimo I de’ Medici exhibition"—don’t miss it!
- The two main floors of the museum are wheelchair accessible, but architectural barriers prevent access to the mezzanine floor and the Secret Passages.
- Guests with disabilities can enter the museum for free. Visitors with mobility issues can access the building via the side entrance in Via dei Gondi.
- The lift, situated on the ground floor in the Cortile della Dogana, is for visitors with reduced mobility only.
- Visitors must leave umbrellas, backpacks, and large bags in the cloakroom. Wheelchairs and strollers may be borrowed here free of charge.
- Please present a valid photo ID along with your ticket at the info point of Palazzo Vecchio.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
- With just a small group of up to 14 people and fast-track entry, experience the history of Palazzo Vecchio more intimately, Florence's symbol of civic power.
- An experienced tour guide will tell you the history and meaning behind the walls of frescoes representing the elements in the private apartments.
- Put on your headsets and learn more about Michaelangelo’s sculpture, Genius of Victory, and other Renaissance art in the Hall of Five Hundred.
- Soak in the sights and scents of Piazza della Signoria from the terrace at the back of the Palazzo Vecchio.
- Select a professional guide in the language of your choice to understand the cartography murals and artifacts in the Hall of Geographical Maps.
- With just a small group of up to 14 people and fast-track entry, experience the history of Palazzo Vecchio more intimately, Florence's symbol of civic power.
- An experienced tour guide will tell you the history and meaning behind the walls of frescoes representing the elements in the private apartments.
- Put on your headsets and learn more about Michaelangelo’s sculpture, Genius of Victory, and other Renaissance art in the Hall of Five Hundred.
- Soak in the sights and scents of Piazza della Signoria from the terrace at the back of the Palazzo Vecchio.
- Select a professional guide in the language of your choice to understand the cartography murals and artifacts in the Hall of Geographical Maps.
Inclusions
- Guided tour of Palazzo Vecchio Museum
- English, Spanish, Italian, French, or German-speaking guide
- Small group of up to 14 people
- Fast-track entry
- Radio headsets for more than 6 people
Exclusions
- Tips
- Tip: Keep an eye out for the Terrace of Saturn in the Room of Elements, which features a ceiling fresco metaphorically representing Saturn.
- This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.
- You may be asked to enter via the security check line on busy days.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Palazzo VecchioSecret Passages
Top things to do in Florence
Why visit Palazzo Vecchio’s secret passages?
Unravel the mystery
Your journey through the secret passages of Palazzo Vecchio
Gualtieri's stone staircase
Your adventure begins as you ascend the narrow spiral staircase of Duke Gualtieri to a set of hidden chambers and corridors. Behind a painting of a dinner party featuring the likes of Cleopatra and Mark Antony lies a small room. Another door unveils a second staircase, also leading back to the object-filled room.
Private study and treasury
Enter the Studiolo of Francesco I de' Medici, which has soaring frescoes across four walls, each dedicated to a natural element. A niche accessible from within this room, Cosimo I’s Tessoretto are secret cabinets that contain rare objects, a collection of Medici art, and his writing desk.
Hall of the 500
Francesco I's tiny private study is right next to the Salone dei Cinquecento, where the Grand Duke used to spy on assemblies in his youth. Observe the great hall’s architectural details from a completely unique perspective.
Elevated passages
The staircase extends upward, guiding you to the grand Hall of Geographical Maps. Concealed within is a hidden passage that discreetly connects to Bianca Cappello’s dressing room—once the mistress of Francesco and later his second wife.
Explore Palazzo Vecchio
With skip-the-line tickets included, you can freely discover the rest of the palace – from the grand courtyard to the Medici apartments, at your own pace after the tour.
History & purpose of Palazzo Vecchio’s secret passages
Built in the 14th century, Palazzo Vecchio served as the seat of power for the influential Medici family. Concealed within its walls are hidden corridors built for clandestine movement and confidential conversations. Designed primarily by Giorgio Vasari, these rooms and passages played a pivotal role in political intrigues, allowing the Medici family to strategize and shape the destiny of Florence behind closed doors.
But Palazzo Vecchio secret passages hold more than political history. Within these concealed chambers lie artistic treasures crafted by legendary masters like Michelangelo, as well as uncommon artifacts. These hidden gems add an enchanting dimension to your journey, as you marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Renaissance.
After centuries of secrecy, the passages were rediscovered and opened to the public. Today, this extraordinary experience offers a rare glimpse into the hidden corners of Florence's past. Follow an expert guide on this adventure that will leave you both informed and spellbound.
Palazzo Vecchio historyFrequently asked questions about the Palazzo Vecchio secret passages
Why are there secret passages in Palazzo Vecchio?
Numerous hidden corridors were carved into the palace in order to give its residents the space to store their precious artifacts and important documents, and to have private meetings.
Does the secret passages tour in Palazzo Vecchio connect to the Vasari Corridor?
No, this tour only includes the hidden passages of the palace. A tour of the Vasari Corridor is only possible from Uffizi Gallery. There is a door in Duchess Eleonora’s Green Room that connects to the corridor, but it is sealed and inaccessible.
Are the secret passages recommended for young children?
Although older children and teenagers may enjoy the experience, children under the age of 6 years are not allowed on the tour.
Are the secret passages of Palazzo Vecchio accessible for guests with limited mobility?
The Palazzo Vecchio Secret Passages tour is not recommended for guests with mobility issues or claustrophobia since there are narrow stairs and passageways.
How to access the Palazzo Vecchio secret passages?
You can enter from a secret location within Palazzo Vecchio, accessible only with a guide.