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Galleria Dell'accademia Overview

The Accademia Gallery is best known for its collection of Renaissance art, including paintings by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli. The gallery was founded in 1784 by Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena, the last grand duke of Tuscany. Today, the Accademia Gallery is the second-most-visited art museum in Italy where you can gaze at some well known paintings, tapestries and sculptures.

If you wish to soak into the cultural vibrancy of the beautiful city of Florence then Galleria dell’ Accademia should be a must-visit in your itinerary. The Galleria earlier functioned as an academy for the fine arts. But later, as more benefactors began to donate important works of art for display or preservation, it was converted into a museum. It is a prestigious museum that displays the best of the bygone era with an incredible collection of modern and contemporary art pieces.

But what really catches the attention of visitors here is the giant marble statue of David which seems to be an otherworldly piece of art. If you’re crazy for music, opera and theatre then you’ll be glad to know that this Galleria has a distinct section called as Musical Instrument Museum that hosts a collection of around forty instruments.

Visitors from all across the world visit this museum to have a taste of its incredible collection and grand stature. It also houses some of the best paintings and sculptures that mark the artistic innovation of mankind. It also has an eating joint named Caffè Delle Belle Arti where you can stop by to have an aperitif or coffee for a refreshing experience.

Highlights

• Explore all that the museum has to offer such as a wide variety of art on display, including paintings, sculptures, and more. There is something for everyone to enjoy at this world-renowned gallery.
• Go through the 7 distinct zones of the gallery which are home to some magnificent pieces of Italian artistic history.
• Marvel at the David Statue, which is a 5.17 metres tall sculpture made of marble and is a popular topic in Florentine art.
• Make sure to visit the Duomo Museum as it offers a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the cathedral, as well as its art and history.
• Admire the unparalleled collection of Renaissance art, which includes works by masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Sandro Botticelli.
• Explore the interior and click many pictures as It is a popular spot for photographers, thanks to its beautiful setting and impressive collection of artworks.
• Make sure to see the basement rooms where Michelangelo’s unfinished sculptures are on display.

How To Reach

The nearest airport to the Galleria dell’ Accademia is the Peretola airport, which is at a distance of about 7.7 KM from the Galleria. You can make the journey either by road or by train:

By Road: The shortest route is the one that goes via Viale Alessandro Guidoni. The journey is about 7.7 KM long and would take about 20 minutes to traverse. There are a number of paid parking spaces near the Galleria, and so you can also rent a vehicle and drive this distance.

By Rail: Peretola Aeroporto station is located at a distance of around 160 meters from the airport. Once you reach the station, you can take the T2 train to Unità station. This journey would take about 20 minutes. From the station, the Galleria is about 1.1 KM away. 

Recommended Read: Things To Do In Florence

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Galleria dell’ Accademia is in September-May when the weather starts getting warmer and the people seem to get some rescue from the nerve-biting chill that remains here. Here we’re enlisting the few other months when you can visit this Galleria.

Monsoon (October- mid December)

This is not considered to be the ideal time to visit the Galleria as there are chances of frequent showers that can ruin your plan to soak into the vibrancy of this museum fully.

Summer(May-September)

This is the peak season for visiting the Galleria as the weather becomes warmer and the sunshine prevails all over the city of Florence giving respite to people from the chilly weather. Due to holidays in schools, even the locals bump into the Galleria with their kids. The average maximum temperature remains around 28.5 degrees Celsius in summer.

Winter(December- February)

Winter is considered to be a good time to visit the Galleria if you wish to cut off the crowd. The temperature in winter ranges around 2.8 degrees Celcius in Florence and during this season less number of visitors show up at the Galleria.

Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Florence

Other Essential Information

History of Galleria dell'Accademia

The Galleria dell’ Accademia has an interesting history that spans over 230 years. The premises were established in 1784 and were meant to be a teaching facility for the Academy of Fine Arts. The bizarre fact about the Galleria is that it earlier housed a convent, as well as a hospital. Throughout the first century, a number of important pieces of art were added to the Galleria’s collection by a varying range of benefactors. Napoleon Bonaparte himself contributed to the collection of sculptures and paintings that formed the collection of the Galleria.

The Michelangelo collection that we see at the Galleria was brought to the museum in parts for varying reasons. The most notable masterpiece, the statue of David, was brought with the simple motivation of glorifying the great artist. The architect, Emilio de Fabris, built a tribune within the Galleria to display it under natural illumination. Other parts of the collection that we see today at the Galleria were brought in, during the 20th century, for the purpose of better preservation.

Also Read: Things To Do In Rome

Tips for Visiting Galleria dell'Accademia

There are certain things that you should remember if you are planning a visit to the Galleria:

1. Book Tickets in Advance: The Galleria is a major attraction in the city of Florence, so it seems to be jam-packed with the crowd at all times, especially in the peak summer season. A much better option is to book the tickets online so that you don’t have to stand in a long queue for the ticket. You should also try to arrive about 15 minutes early and follow the instructions of the staff as they will guide you about the decorum you need to follow here.

2. Carry Water with You: The Galleria doesn’t have air conditioning on the first floor. So during summer, it can be difficult to withstand the hot weather that persists in the Galleria. You should, therefore, avoid visiting the Galleria during summer. Make sure that you carry enough water with you so that you can stay hydrated, especially during the summer season.

3. Do not Miss the other Exhibits: Many people think that the statue of David is the only attraction at the Galleria, which is a fad. The other halls of the Galleria have some amazing exhibitions that you should definitely visit.

4. Don’t be in a hurry: The Galleria houses some of the best art pieces from all over the world. It’s, therefore, important to make sure you have enough time in hand to soak into the beauty of Galleria fully.

Do Read: Places To Visit In Rome

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Point of Interest for Galleria Dell'accademia
Hall Of The Colossus
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Hall Of The Colossus

This is the first hall you get to when you enter the Galleria. It is named after a plaster cast of the Dioscuri of Monte Cavallo that was displayed at the hall earlier, but now it has been removed from here. The main attraction of this hall is the ‘Rape of the Sabines’ by Giambologna, which was meant to show virtuosity.

Planning A Trip To Florence, Checkout & Book Florence Tour Packages Now!

Hall Of The Prisoners
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Hall Of The Prisoners

The hall gets its name from the four nude male sculptures that Michelangelo prepared to be part of the big project, the tomb of Pope Julius II Della Rovere. The project was abandoned due to a shortage of money. The hall contains a number of unfinished projects by Michelangelo, and you can also find here the statue of David.

Planning A Honeymoon Trip To Florence, Checkout & Book Florence Honeymoon Packages Now!

Museum of Musical Instruments
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Museum of Musical Instruments

If you’re a music enthusiast, then you should definitely visit this hallway. This hallway hosts the Grand Ducal collection of about 50 musical instruments in the wing area that belong to the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory. The musical instruments also mention the history of the Medicean Court, where these instruments were used.

Check This Out: Florence Monuments

Tourism Board Alliances

Galleria Dell'accademia FAQs

Is Galleria dell'Accademia free?

The Galleria is not free. However, you can get tickets either on the counter or online, for a price ranging from 2 to 12 euros, depending on what ticket you’ve bought. If you buy the tickets beforehand, you can also get a good discount.

Recommended Read: Things To Do In Florence With Kids

How much is the Galleria dell Accademia?

You can get tickets at the entrance during your visit, or you can get the ‘skip the line’ tickets online beforehand. Depending on the type of ticket you buy, the ticket may cost between €2–12.

What can you do for free in Florence?

There are a number of great things that you can do in Florence for free. Some of them are:

- Wander through Piazza del Duomo

- See the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo

- Find San Miniato al Monte

- Explore Piazza Della Signoria

- Enjoy San Lorenzo Market.

Suggested Read: Florence In May

What is Florence famous for?

Florence is a wonderful town and is known for having unique charm and cultural diversity. For instance, there is a wonderful culinary culture in Florence that inspires millions of chefs and food enthusiasts worldwide. Everything ranging from amazing pasta to great meat-based dishes is famous from this city. It is also popularly known as the ‘cradle of the renaissance’ because a number of great artists spearheaded the renaissance culture over here.

Where is the best view of Florence?

The best view of the city of Florence can be seen from Piazzale Michelangelo, which is a famous square.

Which are the other attraction tickets and activities of Florence I can book via Thrillophilia?

Here are some of the best attraction tickets and activities in Florence that you can book via Thrillophilia:

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Galleria Dell'accademia Reviews

Traveller image gallery
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Aitor Palacio Valle
Reviewed: 02 Mar 2023
5.0/5
I liked the fact that is a huge museum and there are too many things to see. It can be a little bit overwhelming to see everything but if you take your time you can do it, or you can just focus on the things you really want to see One little problem is that the museum is full of people most of the t... Read More
Aitor Palacio Valle
Aitor Palacio Valle
Aitor Palacio Valle
Aitor Palacio Valle
Aitor Palacio Valle
Aitor Palacio Valle
(7+)View All
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Theresa Villavicencio
Reviewed: 12 Aug 2023
4.0/5
Picking up tickets at the location where we were told was a bit confusing but after asking around we eventually found the ticket box office. Very crowed location but the location was very structured in allowing people at a time. Very nice gallery and totally recommend. 
Theresa Villavicencio
Theresa Villavicencio
Theresa Villavicencio
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Andrea Ortiz
Reviewed: 15 Oct 2022
5.0/5
Excelente  
Andrea Ortiz
Andrea Ortiz
Andrea Ortiz
Andrea Ortiz
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Jesus Lopez
Reviewed: 08 Jul 2023
5.0/5
El david!
jesus lopez
jesus lopez
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Sumit Srivastava
Reviewed: 06 Aug 2023
4.0/5
The gallery is amazing. Directions to get paper tickets was simple. We paid for kids ticket at the ticket counter. Then simple queue for reserved time and we were in..
sumit srivastava
sumit srivastava
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Robert
Reviewed: 01 Oct 2023
5.0/5
Booked the tickets then picked them up from the office at the gallery, couldn't be any easier.

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