Galleria dell’Accademia, better known as the Accademia Gallery of Florence or Gallery of the Academy of Florence is the second most visited art museum in Florence, right after the Uffizi Gallery. It is popular for housing Michelangelo's sculpture of David along with a careful curation of paintings and sculptures by other renowned Florentine artists spanning from 1300-1600. Though it is much smaller than the Uffizi Gallery with respect to both size and collection, it is a definite visit for those who would like to feast on world class sculptures and paintings.
Accademia Gallery in a Nutshell
The Accademia Gallery was founded in the XVIII century along with the Academy of Fine Arts (Accademia di Belle Arti) in Florence. It was founded with the purpose to display the artworks designed by students of the Academy along with providing study objects for the art students. Apart from the acclaimed David statue, the Gallery also houses other sculptures by Michelangelo and a large collection of Renaissance paintings like - Botticelli’s Madonna of the Sea (1470), The Virgin and Child (1470), Coronation of the Virgin (1372) and many other gold background paintings. Inside the Accademia Gallery lies a Museum of Musical Instruments which holds an extensive collection of violins, cello and many other early version instruments belonging to the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory.
Must-see Exhibits
- David, by Michelangelo
- Slaves, by Michelangelo
- Coronation of the Virgin, by Jacopo di Cione
- The Rape of the Sabine Women, by Giambologna
- Tree of Life, by Pacino di Buonaguida
Guided Tour + Skip The Line Tickets to Accademia Gallery ✪
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Quick Jumplinks to Navigate the Guide
- Accademia Gallery - A Brief History
- Accademia Gallery Tickets
- Must See Works at the Accademia Gallery
- Accademia Gallery - Practical Information
- Tips on Visiting the Accademia Gallery
Accademia Gallery - A Brief History
The Galleria dell’Accademia was founded in 1784 by Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Lorraine in the as a teaching facility for students of the adjacent Academy of Fine Arts. Over the years, the Accademia Gallery was enriched by paintings accumulated from convents and monasteries suppressed by Grand Duke Peter Leopold and later by Napoleon too. In 1873, the original statue of Michelangelo’s David was moved from Piazza della Signoria into the Galleria and a large skylight was designed by Emilio de Fabris to highlight the grandeur of the statue. After the museum was opened to the public, the museum revamped the arrangements and added more artefacts of tapestries, paintings and sculptures. In 1950, the most impressive hall in Accademia Gallery, the Hall of the Colossus was opened along with the Byzantine styled rooms featuring over 1300 panel paintings.
Accademia Gallery Tickets
Skip The Line Access to the Accademia Gallery with Audioguide
- Skip the line and experience the world-famous Accademia Gallery with a guided audio commentary from expert historians
- Bask in the beauty of the artworks and the architecture in all 7 zones of the gallery at your own pace with your audio guide
- Zero Hassle Mobile Voucher tickets with no printing needed
What to see at the Accademia Gallery
Hall of the Colossus: This is the first hall when you enter the gallery, boasting a stunning marble sculpture of ‘Rape of the Sabines’ by Giambologna. The Hall of the Colossus also features paintings by Botticelli, Paolo Uccello, Perugino and many more artists including ‘Madonna by the Rocks’, ‘Assumption of the Virgin’ and ‘Deposition’.
Hall of the Prisoners: A special memoir dedicated to the unfinished works of Michelangelo, the hall takes its name after the four large sculptures known as the Slaves- Atlas, Bearded Slave, Awakening Slave and Young Slave. The main paintings in this halls include ‘The Prophet Isaiah’ and ‘The Prophet Job’ by Bartolomeo and ‘Venus and Cupid’ by Michelangelo.
The Tribune: This is the most famous hall in the Accademia Galleria, housing the legendary ‘David’ by Michelangelo. Placed in the center under a bright skylight, the halo-like dome is a spectacular sight capable of reducing the mightiest individuals to mere spectators. The hall also features the iconic ‘Madonna and child with young St.John’ by Salviati and ‘Annunciation’ by Alessandro Allori.
"The Hall of Models: Also known as the "Gipsoteca Bartolini" , this 19th century hall focuses on the sculptures and modeling techniques used by prominent artists. Here, an interesting, informative video showing the step by step process involved in creating the plaster cast necessary for such sculptures is a huge hit amongst visitors.
Museum of Musical Instruments: Venture into the world of rhythm and music as you discover the surreal Grand Ducal Collection of over 50 musical instruments. Explore the collection of string, wind and harpsichord instruments on display. Multimedia displays allow the visitors to hear the different sounds as heard by the Medicis during their reign.
Florentine Gothic: Spread over 3 rooms, this section is dedicated to Florentine Gothic paintings from the 13th to 15th century. The gothic imagery captured by the artist along with the vibrant colors is a sight behold. The hall features the magnificent ‘Tree of Life’ by Pacino di Bonaguida, ‘Coronation of the Virgin’ by Jacopo di Cione,‘Pentecost’ by Andrea di Cione and many other works.
Florence between 1370 and 1430: An entire floor dedicated to the pre-renaissance period, this hall features masterpieces from the late Gothic period. Here one can see the famous ‘Massacre of the Innocents’ by Jacopo di Cione and ‘Madonna of Humility’ by Don Silvestro. A video is also projected here which shows the fashion of Florence during these times.
Accademia Gallery - Practical Information
Opening Hours Accademia Gallery
Tuesday to Sunday (8:15 AM - 6:50 PM)
The ticket office closes at 6:20 PM and they start shutting operations by 6:40 PM
Accademia Gallery remains closed on Mondays,New Years Day, Christmas and May 1st
Getting to Accademia Gallery
Address
Via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
By Train
The closest station to Accademia Gallery is the Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station. From here, the Gallery is a 10 minute walk.
By Car
The closest car park is near the Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station. You can park your car here and make a quick walk to the Accademia Gallery
By Bus
You can take any bus that has a stop at the anta Maria Novella (SMN) train station. From here, you can walk over to the Accademia Gallery
Insider Tips on Visiting the Accademia Gallery
- Buying skip the line tickets is suggested only if you’re visiting the Accademia Gallery during peak season. Other times, the queues are practically non-existent.
- Do not leave the museum after viewing the most acclaimed David sculpture. The collection of exhibits on the second floor are priceless and you should definitely take the time for a cursory glance at the very least.
- Touching the exhibits are strictly prohibited, however photography is permitted inside the Accademia Gallery
- The first floor does not have AC , however the second floor does. On a hot day, ambling the first floor can get very hot. Carrying water is recommended.
- Being a compact museum, you can complete touring it in 1 hour
- A guided tour is recommended for those who would like to understand the history behind the artists.
- If you have the Firenze Card, there is a seperate line at the Accademia ticket counter that allows entry without prior reservations. The queue for this line also tends to be shorter.
- If you have reserved your tickets online, you are required to queue up in the said line 15 minutes prior to your scheduled entrance slot.
- Contrary to popular notion, the Accademia Gallery is a fine attraction to bring children along as the Museum of Musical Instruments will surely fascinate the tiny minds.
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