Galleria dell'Accademia

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The Galleria dell’ Accademia di Firenze (or the Gallery of the Academy of Florence) first opened its doors in 1784 after the Grand Duke of Tuscany Pietro Leopoldo called for the restructuring of the Academy of Arts of Design (founded by Cosimo I de Medici). It housed material for the students to study, but today it’s most famous for housing Michelangelo’s statue of David. It’s the second-most visited museum in Florence, with tickets to see David often selling out, so book in advance to avoid disappointment!

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Tickets

Book a ticket with a timeslot to see David and save time on the day.

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Guided Tours

Take a tour of the gallery’s highlights with an expert guide.

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More Tickets & Tours

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Skip the Line: Florence Accademia Gallery Tickets

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Florence: Tour with Accademia and Optional Duomo Visit

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Florence: Uffizi & Accademia Small Group Walking Tour

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Florence Walking Tour with Skip-the-Line to Accademia & Michelangelo’s ‘David’

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Galleria dell'Accademia

One of the most important museums in Italy and a tourist magnet in Florence

David by Michelangelo | Ulmon: CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0

World Famous Highlight: The Statue of David

The statue was originally commissioned as part of a series of 12 statues by Donatello, intended to sit on the buttresses of Florence Cathedral.

History of the Statue

The story of David is a long and complicated one! Two figures were made out of terracotta between 1410 and 1463 before Agostino di Duccio was commissioned to sculpt a statue of David out of marble. Marble was sourced from Carrara and brought to Florence at great expense, and Agostino began to roughly shape the torso, legs, and feet before the project was called to a halt, possibly due to the death of Donatello. Ten years later, Antonio Rossellino was ordered to take up the project, but he didn’t make much progress before abandoning the sculpture. The marble sat unused for 26 years in the cathedral workshop, sustaining damage from the elements, before the authorities decided they would search for someone who could complete the work. Several artists were consulted, including Leonardo da Vinci, but Michelangelo was eventually awarded the contract. He worked on the piece for over two years, creating the 6-ton masterpiece you can see today. It quickly became obvious that there was no way to put such a huge and heavy statue on the cathedral roof and, after much debate, David was placed next to the entrance of the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s town hall. It stood there from June 1504 until 1873, when it was moved to the Galleria dell’ Accademia in order to protect it from damage. A replica of the statue can still be seen outside the Palazzo Vecchio, so you can visit that as well to get an idea of how David would have looked in its original location.

Gipsoteca Bartolini | Flickr: Dimitris Kamaras CC-BY 2.0

Other works by Michelangelo in the Galleria dell' Accademia

In addition to the permanent exhibitions briefly presented here, the Galleria dell' Accademia also hosts temporary exhibitions on various themes.

The highlight of the gallery is the original statue of David by Michelangelo, but you will also be able to see other works by the artist, including his four unfinished Prisoners, which had been intended to decorate the tomb of Pope Julius II, and an unfinished statue of St Matthew. There’s also a version of the Pietà, but it’s unclear whether this can truly be attributed to Michelangelo.

Florentine Art

Other halls in the gallery contain paintings by Florentine artists active from the 13th to the 16th centuries, including works by Botticelli and Ghirlandaio, and an exhibition of Florentine Gothic art.

Gipsoteca Bartolini

The Gipsoteca Bartolini contains plaster casts that were collected so that students of the Academy could study the great masters without having to travel to see the originals.

Museum of Musical Instruments

The Museum of Musical Instruments inside the gallery is also well worth a visit, as you’ll be able to see some of the earliest pianos ever built and the only well-conserved viola made by Anton Stradivari

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time should I plan to spend inside the Accademia Gallery?

The Galleria dell’ Accademia is small when compared to the Uffizi Gallery, but it’s full of interesting things to see. You can view David and many of the other key works of art within an hour, but anyone who particularly enjoys art can plan to spend two to three hours exploring the halls of the Accademia Gallery. Read more.

Can I sketch inside the gallery?

Sketching with pencil and paper is allowed as long as you aren’t in the way of other visitors to the gallery. No other materials are allowed, especially paints of different kinds. Photography is also permitted, but only without the use of flash, and selfie-sticks and other pieces of equipment aren’t allowed inside the museum. Read more.

Will my children enjoy a trip?

Although there is a special children’s audio guide available, it’s possible younger children might find this gallery a little boring after a while. Although they’ll probably recognize and enjoy spotting David and may also enjoy the exhibits featuring musical instruments, the exhibitions aren’t particularly designed with children in mind. Children can enter free of charge, but make sure to bring a form of photo ID with you in order to take advantage of the free entry. Read more.

General Information

Opening Hours:

From Tuesday to Sunday, the gallery is open from 8.15 am to 6.50 pm. During the summer months, the museum may also be open late on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 7 pm to 10 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays, on January 1, and on December 25.

Tickets:

Tickets cost €12 or €2 for a reduced price ticket. EU Citizens aged between 18 and 25 and Italian school teachers are eligible for the reduced price. Children under the age of 18, disabled EU citizens and a companion, and students at certain Italian cultural institutions can enter free of charge. Audioguides are available in English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese and cost €6 to rent.

COVID-19 measures:

The maximum number of visitors allowed is 200 people. Groups of up to 5 people plus a guide are allowed into the museum. For safety reasons, a one-way route through the museum and a distance of 1.5 meters from other guests must be observed. There is a permanent obligation to wear a mask in the museum.

Address:

Galleria dell’ Accademia
Via Ricasoli, 58/60
50122 Florence
Italy

How to get there:

The Galleria dell’ Accademia is within walking distance of many of Florence’s most important attractions, including the Duomo. It can also be reached by taking bus numbers 1, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 25, 31, 32, 52, 82, and C1 to Piazza di San Marco. The center of Florence is a restricted traffic zone, so it’s not advised to drive.

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