History
The Galleria dell’Accademia is an art gallery most famous for its marble scultures by the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo. His Prisoners (or Slaves), his St. Matthew and, most of all, the impressive statue of David are exhibited. Beside his works precious sculptures and paintings (mostly from the period 1300-1600) from other great Italian artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Pontormo, Andrea del Sarto, Allessandro Allori and Orcagna are exhibited.
The museum adjoins the Accademia di Belle Arti (academy of fine arts) of Florence. It was in 1784 when the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo of Lorraine re-founded the Academy of Fine Arts, bringing together the various institutions, including the former Academy of Drawing Arts founded in 1563 by Cosimo I de’ Medici. The new art institution was joined by a gallery wehre students could find works of art for their knowledge, study or artisitc training.
1872 marks the final turning point in the history of the museum, when it was decided to transfer Michelangelo’s David from its original open-air placement on the Piazza della Signora, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio (today there’s still a replica exhibited), into the art gallery for having a better protection against environmental influences.
In August 1873 the statue was snatched into a wooden carriage assembly and was pulled on rails down the streets of the center to the art gallery.
In 1875 with the celebration of the 4th centenary of Michelangelo’s birthday, the museum management decided to add chalk reproductions of his sculptural masterpieces, that’s why today you will find an entire room with chalk reproductions inside the museum.
Relevant information (status 15.10.2017):
Address
Galleria dell’accademia di Firenze (Google Maps)
50122 Firenze, Italia
http://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.beniculturali.it
Opening hours
From Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15 to 18.50
Closed: All Mondays, 1 January, 1 May, 25 December
Tickets
Prices
- Normal ticket: € 8,00
- Reduced ticket: € 4,00 (Citizens of the EU aged 18-25 years, Teachers of Italian state schools)
- Free of charge (Every first Sunday of the month, Children under the age of 18, Groups of EU students, EU citizens with disabilites, more see website)
- + 4 € in case of reservation
How to buy tickets?
- Like I did (cheapest option): Buy them directly inside the museum, queque may be more little during early morning/towards the evening and during off-season (as shwon in my video, I had to wait 15 minutes at the end of April, towards 17:00)
- Phone (not offered from the official museum): call +39-055-294-883 to book by phone (keep in mind the time difference with Italy which is +1 UTC and phone center operating hours: Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm)
- Online: you have several options online, depending on whether you’re interested in just tickets or a tour as well:
- Official B-Ticket (cheapest online option): Choose your date, ticket only, non-refundable, no changes allowed
- Official Firenze Card & Firenze Card +: Valid 72 hours for 72 museums, € 72
- Florence Tickets: Tickets and Guided tours, refundable & changes possible, medium and small sized groups
- Viator: Tickets and tours, many tour options including combo tickets, large and small size groups
Audioguide
- Available at the ticket office inside the museum
- Languages: Italian, English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese
- Price: € 6,00 per single appliance, € 10,00 per double appliance
Other information
- Want a picture alone with David? Stay inside the museum until it’s almost closing
- There’s no wardrobe
- Only watter bottles of max. 0.5 liters are allowed
