Galleria dell'Accademia

Established as Europe's very first Art Academy in 1563, this gallery's most famous resident is Michelangelo’s David - but there's plenty more to see here.

TravelCurious Tip

Time your visit: entry is free on the first Sunday of the month, and during the summer the museum also holds magical late openings

In the summer months you won’t struggle to find the famous Galleria dell’Accademia — just look for the longest queue of tourists in Florence. This art museum is popular for good reason: it has been the home of Michaelangelo’s David since 1873. Before then David was left out in the cold in the Piazza della Signoria; a replica remains there even now.


There’s much more to see besides David in the Accademia, magnificent as it is. Upon entering the building you step into the Hall of the Colossus, home of the plaster model for Giambologna’s masterful marble sculpture Rape of the Sabine Women. The real thing can be seen in the Loggia dei Lanzi, but the model is just as interesting, showing a master’s creative process as he summons life from a single block of marble. Neighbouring rooms contain paintings by Andrea Orcagna, Taddeo Gaddi, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Filippino Lippi and Sandro Botticelli.


Tribute for an Old Master

The Accademia was at first specifically intended as a tribute to Michaelangelo, celebrating the fourth centenary of his birth. It has broadened its range since then, but it still contains numerous works of his. Other than David, it also includes his four unfinished Prisoners, which were intended for the tomb of Pope Julius II, and a statue of Saint Matthew.


Sounds and sweet airs

The most recent section of the Accademia, the Museum of Musical Instruments, offers the chance to learn about the invention of the piano, created by Bartolomeo Cristofori for the Medici, and admire the Grand Ducal collection of forty instruments, scaling from harpsichords to violoncellos.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Florence
Santa Maria del Fiore
This stunning cathedral took nearly 150 years to complete, and Brunelleschi's dome is today the most iconic feature of the Florentine skyline.
The Baptistery of St John
Among the city’s oldest buildings (and certainly its most octagonal), the Baptistery is a superb example of Florentine Romanesque style.
Michelangelo's David
Probably the world's most iconic sculpture, this Renaissance masterpiece took Michelangelo two years to complete.
Florentine Leather Market
Plunge into the Italian market scene by visiting Florence's most famous outdoor.
Piazza del Duomo
Florence's 'Cathedral Square' is in the historic heart of the city and home to several of its most famous landmarks.
Jewelers
Unique and unrepeatable creations made entirely by hand according to the Florentine goldsmith's tradition.

Related Tours

Explore Florence Highlights including the 'David': Private Tour
Discover the highlights of Florence and follow an expert and entertaining tour guide to the most significant places through the historical centre and learn about the amazing history of the city from the time it was the capital of the Renaissance to the time it became the capital of early unified Italy. 

On your private half-day tour, you will:

  • Begin your tour at Galleria dell'Accademia (Accademia Gallery), the home to the largest collection of Michelangelo's sculptures;
  • Admire "The David" and marvel at the elegance and details of this  5.17-metre (17 ft 0 in) marble sculpture;
  • Learn why Michelangelo is considered a genius and see traces of his sculptural technique in the chisel marks of the unfinished sculptures of the "Slaves";
  • Enjoy a walking tour of Florence's highlights, including the magnificent Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) and the famed baptistry with its gilded 'Gates of Paradise' doors; 
  • Learn about Italian leatherwork, and discover the best places to shop in the city;
  • Explore the historical political heart of Florence with the medieval castle-like Palazzo Vecchio and the elegant Renaissance Uffizi Gallery buildings;
  • Admire the beautiful sculptures in the Loggia dei Lanzi outdoor Sculpture gallery, including Cennini's Perseus holding the head of Medusa;
  • Enjoy a refreshing Gelato break at your guide's favourite gelateria;
  • End your tour on the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's most famous and ancient bridge over the Arno river.

Your tour begins in the prestigious Accademia Gallery, where you will enjoy timed entrance tickets to the museum, and explore stunning artwork, including Michelangelo's David.

Then see the religious centre of the city: admire the Duomo, whose impressive Dome was designed by Brunelleschi, and the Baptistery of Saint John, one of the oldest buildings in Florence. From the religious centre, you will walk to the political centre, and enjoy a pleasant stroll through Piazza Della Signoria, surrounded by its ancient buildings and the Loggia Dei Lanzi. 

In this open-air museum, we will see original masterpieces by Giambologna and Cellini. From there, you'll cross the famous Ponte Vecchio, the medieval bridge on the Arno River. Your tour finishes with a delicious gelato (on us!) before your guide leaves you with recommendations for how to spend the remainder of your day.

This half-day tour of Florence's Renaissance artwork and architecture is a must for all visitors. 


Please note: that there is often a long line to enter into the Duomo of Florence. If the line is too long you will not visit the interior of the Cathedral on tour, and your guide will give you tips on the best time to return to avoid standing in line.
Uffizi Gallery & Accademia: Private Full-Day Walking Tour
Explore the best of Renaissance in Florence on this full-day tour including a guided visit to the Uffizi Gallery and to the Accademia Gallery where you will admire the world-famous "David" by Michelangelo. 

On your private tour, you will: 

  • Walk across the iconic Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence; 
  • Get a crash course in Italian History of Art as you explore the Uffizi Gallery,  home to many of Italy's most famous works of Art  brilliantly organised in chronological order;
  • Learn about Renaissance Masters like Giotto and Leonardo da Vinci; 
  • Admire Boticelli's most recognisable works, such as the  'Birth of Venus' and "Primavera" (Spring);
  • See the famous Doni Tondo by Michelangelo and Bacchus by Caravaggio;
  • Break for lunch. Your guide will recommend the perfect spot for a bite to eat (not included in the price).
  • Enjoy a walking tour of Florence's most popular highlights, including Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Logga dei Lanzi, Piazza Della Repubblica, and of course the famed Duomo and its Baptistry;
  • Visit the Galleria dell'Accademia to admire Michelangelo's sculpture of David, and the "slaves";
  • End your tour inside the Accademia Gallery, where you are free to continue exploring at your own leisure;

Located in the very heart of Tuscany, in a basin crossed by the Arno River, the magnificent city of Florence stands as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, filled with historical relics and artistic masterpieces by the greatest masters of Humanism and the Renaissance. You can read it in Dante, see it in Michelangelo, or just be engulfed by it when you walk into a church. 

Begin your day in the impressive Uffizi Gallery, one of the largest museums in the Western world, holding over 3,000 works of notable artists. The Museum complex is deeply bound to the history of the city and the House of Medici and echoes the splendour of a whole era. Masterpieces by Giotto, Masaccio, Piero della Francesca and Botticelli are waiting for you, along with the most recent Caravaggio, Tiziano and Tintoretto and the stunning Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation and Adoration of the Magi.

After, the walking portion of your tour highlights key Renaissance sites and masterpieces,  including the chance to see the Duomo Duomo and its impressive dome designed by Brunelleschi, and the Baptistery of Saint John, one of the oldest buildings in Florence. 

You will also visit the political centre, and enjoy a pleasant stroll through Piazza Della Signoria, surrounded by its ancient buildings and the Loggia Dei Lanzi. 

In the afternoon, your guide will take you to the prestigious Accademia Gallery, where you will enjoy skip-the-line tickets to the museum, and explore stunning artwork, including Michelangelo's David. After an hour, your guide will leave you to explore the gallery at your own leisure. 

Please note that there is often a long line to enter into the Duomo of Florence. If the line is too long you will not visit the interior of the Cathedral on tour, and your guide will give you tips on the best time to return to avoid standing in line.
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