Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence

The Galleria dell’Accademia is one of the most important museums in Florence and Italy. The main attraction in this museum is the original of Michelangelo‘s masterpiece, the David. Besides beautiful art, there is also a collection of musical instruments assembled by the Medici family.

Galleria dell’Accademia Florence, a brief history

The Galleria dell’Accademia is located near Piazza Santissima Annunziata. The former San Matteo Hospital and the San Niccolò di Cafaggio Monastery were used as the seat of the museum.

The Galleria was founded in 1784 by order of Grand Duke Leopold of Lorraine.

Many works of art were assembled from expropriated monasteries. Other works come from the Accademia del Disegno and the Accademia di Belle Arti. The period of origin runs from the 2nd half of the 13th to the end of the 16th century.

In the 20th century the museum lost several important works to the Galleria degli Uffizi.

Attractions Galleria dell’Accademia Florence

Michelangelo

The popularity of the Galleria dell’Accademia is mainly due to four sculptures by Michelangelo. These are the San Matteo, the Prigioni (“Prisons”), a Pietà and of course the world famous “David“. The latter has been in the museum since 1873. Previously, it was located in the Piazza della Signoria, where it has been replaced by a copy. The monumental grandstand around the statue was specially created for the masterpiece.

Giambologna

A plaster cast of Giambologna’s “Rape of the Sabines” is also part of the collection of the Galleria. It is a copy of the sculpture group underneath the Loggia della Signoria. The plaster cast takes up central position in the so-called Hall of the Colossus. The original was sculpted from one huge block of marble.

Other highlights

• The collection of panels with a golden background.
• The very well preserved late Gothic triptychs on the 1st floor.
• The collection of Russian icons.
• The gypsum library (where plaster reproductions of sculptures made of marble or other materials are kept) by 19th century artists Lorenzo Bartolini and Luigi Pampaloni.

Musical instruments

The most recent addition to the collection of the Galleria dell’Accademia is that of the antique musical instruments from the collection of the Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini, originally from the collection of the Medici family and others.

Opening hours, address and ticket price

The address of the Galleria is Via Bettino Ricasoli, 60 – 50122 Florence (Tel. 055 294883). It is open from Tuesday to Friday, from 08.15 to 18.50 hours. Closed on Monday. 1 January, 1 May, 25 December closed. The box office closes at 18.20 hours. The entrance fee is 6,50 Euro. Residents of the EU between 18 and 25 years old pay 3,25 Euro. Young people over the age of 18 and over the age of 65 from the EU can enter free of charge. The Florence Card is valid at the Galleria dell’Accademia.

Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence

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