Tour of the secret Passages
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Tour of the secret Passages
Rooms exist inside Palazzo Vecchio where time seems to stand still and where it is easy for visitors to experience emotions from the past. Since the year 2000 the Museum has restored these environments for public use and they can now be visited by small groups - a maximum of 12 - accompanied by expert guides. The Stairway of the Duke of Athens, the Studiolo of Francesco I, the Tesoretto of Cosimo I, and the trusses of the ceiling of the Salone dei Cinquecento can now all be visited. Despite differing greatly one from the other, they allow a previously inaccessible and now far more penetrating glimpse of Palazzo Vecchio. The stairway - commissioned by Gualtieri di Brienne between 1342 and 1343 - was built into the depths of the walls and finishes in a tiny door opening onto Via Ninna, the Tesoretto and the Studiolo, located one on top of the other next to the Salone dei Cinquecento, emanate the refined and cultured atmosphere of the Italian renaissance courts, as they represent one of the most important manifestations of the Princes' passion for collecting. The double rows of Vasarian trusses which hold up the ceiling of the Salone dei Cinquecento and also support the imposing gilded lacunars of this hall, are a perfect expression of the numerous dialogues between art and science, typical of the era of Humanism and the Renaissance.General information
The main entrance to the museum is in via dei Gondi . For security reasons, at both entrances, visitors are asked to pass through metal detectors and eventually be checked by the municipal policemen. Security controls can slow the access to the museum, so it is highly recommended to arrive some time before the planned schedule.All activities for children require the presence of an adult.
The tours of the Secret passages are not accessible for visitors with wheelchair disabilities.
All the guided tour in Palazzo Vecchio need to be reserved. If you want see the palace by your own can enter through the side door, in via dei Gondi without reservations, but at the ticket office you have to respect the line.
Occasionally tours are cancelled as the Palazzo Vecchio is still a functioning civic government building. In case of tours cancelled you will be notified.
The Palazzo Vecchio tours are not wheelchair accessible, though the building itself is wheelchair accessible. The entrance for people with disabilities is the side door in Via dei Gondi.
Additional information: You must be at the museum 15 minutes before your scheduled entrance time to redeem your tickets.
May purchase Reduced/Half Ticket *:
- People between 18 and 25 years old (valid identity document needed at the entrance)
- People over 65 years old
- For children from 3 to 17 age: € 2,00 without extra fee. Tickets can be purchased directly at ticket office of the Museum.
Timetable Museum of Palazzo Vecchio
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9 am h/7 pm hWednesday and week-day holiday (6th January, Monday of Easter, 25 april, 2th june, 24 june,
1° November, 8 December, 26 December) 9 am h /2 am h
Closed 1° january, Easter, 1° may, 15 August, 25 December
Timetable of activities
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 09 am h /05 pm h 30Saturday and Sunday 09 am h/06 pm h
Wednesday 09 am h /12 pm h 30
feste infrasettimanali 10 am h / 01 pm h
Saturday and Sunday 10 am h/6 pm h