We can all agree without a shadow of a doubt that Italy is the cultural and artistic capital of the world. From the heydays of the Roman Empire to the advent of Renaissance, from inspiring Etruscan architecture to pioneering the culinary field, Italy has known art and history like the back of its hand. Keeping that in mind, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of the most prominent art gallery and museum in the world is situated at the heart of Florence. Accademia Gallery of Florence (or Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze) is home to some of the most notable works of art on this planet, which makes it the second most visited art gallery in Italy.
In a Nutshell
Know before you go
Best time to visit - Early mornings or after 5 pm
Suggested duration - 2 Hours
Built in - 1784
Starting Accademia Gallery Ticket price - €18.5
Closest Bus Stop - Santissima Annunziata
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday (8:15 am - 6:20 pm)
Closed on Mondays
Must-see
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
Address
Via Ricasoli, 58/60,
50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Get directions
Why should you visit Accademia Gallery?
Accademia Gallery chronicles the history of Italy through its diverse collection. The Grand Ducal collection of forty musical instruments hosted in the Accademia Gallery is an essential part that formed the Medicean court. The Hall of Prisoners on display is a tribute to the artistic genius of Michelangelo. Apart from that, Accademia Gallery is also home to landmark 13th and 14th Century artwork. This art gallery is not just for the artistically inclined. Its awe-inspiring multifariousness will keep any sensible person hooked for a long time.
A Brief History of the Accademia Gallery
Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Lorraine established the Academy of Fine Arts in 1784, and as an extension of the institute, Accademia Gallery was opened. The gallery occupies the antique spaces of Hospital of Saint Matthew and the Convent of Saint Niccolo’ of Cafaggio. Formerly, these spaces were used to house artworks that were intended for study by the Academy of Fine Arts students. Over the years, the current collection of artwork at Accademia Gallery was achieved with the help of various convents and monasteries. Since its public opening in 1892, various popular works of art have been added to the Accademia Gallery roster.
Accademia Gallery Tickets
Galleria dell'Accademia is one of the most visited museums and a top attraction in Florence. To skip the long waiting lines at the ticket office, make sure you have your Accademia Gallery Tickets in your hand before your visit. Headout also offers combo tickets that includes fast track access to various other attractions in Florence with just a few more euros for you to have a hassle-free visit.
Accademia Gallery Combo Tickets
If you want to save a few euros, grab the chance of seeing the best of the city with these combo tickets! You can choose skip-the-line tickets or include guided tours of the top attractions to learn about the mind-boggling history and architecture of Florence.
The Halls of Accademia Gallery
Accademia Gallery has seven halls of fame(ous) statues and paintings. Here is a glimpse to know what to expect from each of them.
1Hall of the Colossus
Named after the ancient plaster casts housed here, Hall of the Colossus was renovated in 2013 to arrive at its current form. Upon entering, on the same wall as the entrance, you will be able to admire the works of Domenico Ghirlandaio, Filippino Lippi, Paolo Uccello, Perugino, and Botticelli. On the wall to the left, there are six exhibits of 15th Century altarpieces, each one explicating the development of Florentine School of art. On the right, there sits Giambologna’s plaster cast. It is surrounded by three of the most intricate altarpieces you will ever see, created Perugino, Raffaellino del Garbo, and Filippino Lippi.
2Hall of the Prisoners
The Hall of the Prisoners took its name from the four enormous male nudes that you find here now. There is a significant amount of history that entwines these sculptures. These were commissioned in 1505 and outdates Sistine Chapel. The sculptures were intended to be a part of the spectacular tomb of Pope Julius II Della Rovere. Michelangelo had to eventually stop working on these due to financial shortcomings. Finally, these sculptures weren’t a part of the structure anymore and thus remained in Florence. In addition to these, you will also find paintings by Granacci, Andrea del Sarto, Fra’ Bartolomeo, Pontormo, and Michele di Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio.
3The Tribune
Michelangelo’s David has always been one of the most remarkable works of art. Since its completion in 1504, the sculpture had maintained its position at Piazza Della Signoria, braving nature. In the 1850s, it was decided that David shall be moved inside a tribune within Accademia Gallery. That is how The Tribune came into being. Initially, copies of a number of Michelangelo’s paintings were present within The Tribune. David can now be found flanked by works of artists like Bronzino, Cecchino Salviati, and Allori, whose style and ideas are said to be similar to Michelangelo’s.
4Gipsoteca Bartolini
This hall has been a part of Accademia Gallery since 1784, when Peter Leopold, the Grand Duke of Tuscany ordered to convert the Friary Hospital of San Matthew into an art gallery for the students of the Fine Arts Academy. Lorenzo Bartolini, one of the leading professors at the Academy contributed a lion’s of his works for this hall. Pampaloni was another artist whose works can be seen in Gipsoteca Bartolini. The collection in this hall exhibits the evolution of Florentine art from New-classicism to Romanticism.
5Florentine Gothic
The last hall on the ground floor, comprising of three rooms, is called Florentine Gothic. The three rooms are dedicated to 13th and early 14th century, the Giottesque painters and Orcagna and his brothers, respectively. The first of these rooms houses the oldest works of art in Accademia Gallery from the 13th and 14th centuries. The second room has artworks by the followers of Giotto, who brought back nature in his works. The last room displays artworks mainly by the four artist brothers Andrea, Nardo, Matteo, and Jacopo di Cione. Some of the artworks in the hall has been recently restored.
6Museum of Musical Instruments
As the name suggests, this hall hosts over forty musical instruments that played a significant role in the day to day business of the Medicean court. The material used and the fine work on the instruments paint a proper image of the society of its time. The magnificent collection of string and wind instruments detail how musically inclined the erstwhile civilization was. In addition to the instruments, the tour comes with multimedia systems to bring all the information to your fingertips.
7Florence Between 1370 and 1430
This hall was reorganized and redesigned in 2013 to give it a brighter look and feel. A compilation of late 14th Century art was put together in this hall on the first floor. The first works of art that you come across in the hall is dedicated to the regional religious practices during the time in Florence. The main hall is mainly comprised of the art commissioned by the Florentine Guilds. The altarpieces are the greatest attraction in this part of the hall. They are brilliant exhibits of Gothic architecture.
Top 5 Must See Works at the Accademia Gallery
1David by Michelangelo
Almost three years in the making, this icon of Renaissance art today stands as the crown jewel of Accademia Gallery. Michelangelo’s David can now be seen in the Tribune at the Accademia Gallery under a skylight that was intended to appear as a halo above the structure.
2Rape of the Sabines by Jean de Boulogne
In the hall of the Colossus, stands this plaster cast model that was put together by Jean de Boulogne. The model depicts three figures in astonishing detail, engaged in a serpentine motion. The entire structure was cut from a single block of marble.
3Coronation of the Virgin by Jacopo Di Cione
If there ever was a panel painting that you need to see, it is this. The abundant use of the golden colour gives the painting a strange radiance. The reason for this is that the painting was commissioned by the Magistrates of the mint.
4Slaves by Michelangelo
This work comprises four male nudes. Initially these statues hit many roadblocks until they were abandoned in an unfinished state. However, it is claimed that the statues were deliberately left in an incomplete state to better represent the effort of the slaves to free themselves from the marble rigidity.
5Tree of Life by Pacino di Buonaguida
Another must-see at the Accademia Gallery, the Tree of Life is an extraordinary work by Pacino di Buonaguida. The Genesis of creation and fall is represented in the painting with the crucified Christ appearing as the tree. From each branch in the tree hang ornaments that depict various biblical events.
Good To Know Before You Go
Opening Hours Accademia Gallery
Tuesday to Sunday (8:15 AM - 6:20 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 take 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
Rules and Regulations
• All luggage have to be checked into the cloakroom before entry.
• Full ticket prices will have to be paid for all non-EU visitors above the age of 18 years.
• On the first Sunday of every month, ticket prices are waived for everyone.
• Using professional photography equipment with flash is prohibited.
• Do not touch the artworks or lean on the bases of the statues.
Insider Tips on Visiting the Accademia Gallery
- Skip the line tickets will let you bypass the main entry line. You will still have to go through with the security checks line.
- Depending on the crowd, your time slot can be moved up or down upon your arrival.
- Your guide for the tours will usually be wearing bright colored clothes for easy recognition.
- Citizens of EU nations can avail tickets at a special price upon production of a valid ID proof.
- All consumables and hazardous objects are banned within the Accademia Gallery premises.
- Not all tickets allow cancellation. Make prior inquiries.
- Tickets that cover more than one location may be a little rushed due to stringent time slots.
- If the tour is not guided, begin from the top floor and work your way to the bottom to avoid the crowd.
Other things to do in Florence
There is no doubt that Accademia is the top thing you need to see in Florence. To add to your Florence itinerary, here are some other cool places to look out for.
You cannot walk into Florence and not see the Uffizi Gallery. It is the largest and the most visited gallery in the world with more than 2 million tourists flocking in every year. It dates back to the 16th century and is the world’s first modern museum. World-famous artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Baccio Bandinelli, and Titian’s art and sculptures are housed here, making it a one-of-a-kind experience that cannot be encountered elsewhere in the world.
Florence Duomo is undoubtedly the most eye-catching monument in the city. So much so, we cannot picture Florence without it. The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore also called the Florence Duomo for its notable dome, is the 4th largest cathedral in all of Europe, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The renaissance-inspired architecture, earthy colours, and beautiful frescoes make it highly worthy of paying a visit while in the city.
Spend some time picnicking under the Florence sun at the royal botanical Boboli Gardens. Spread over around 45,000 square metres and the backyard for Pitti Palace, the iconic Boboli Gardens is a lush landscape and a wonderful way to spend your mornings. It is also the largest open-air museum in Florence. With all the popular landmarks within walkable distance, Boboli Gardens is a great place to start your self guided tour of Florence.
One of the best places to chill in Florence is Palazzo Pitti. Also known as Pitti Palace and dates back to the 15th Century. It packs eight large museums and galleries along with the beautiful Boboli Gardens. If you are on a time constrained schedule you can take a walk to Palazzo Pitti to experience the culture, art and architecture of Florence.
FAQs
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