Gallerie dell’Accademia

Located on the south Bank of the Grand Canal, the Gallerie dell'Accademia showcases a collection of masterpieces of Venetian paintings from the 15th to 18th centuries.

TravelCurious Tip

The Accademia is deceptively large, and many visitors linger in the early rooms at the expense of the 17th and 18th century works housed in the later rooms – pace yourself!

If you’re looking for something a little more traditional than the art that can be found in the nearby Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the Gallerie dell’Accademia is the place to go. Founded in 1807 on the orders of Napoleon, it also has the distinction of being one of the first institutions worldwide to begin formally and methodically developing the process of art restoration.


A Visual Feast

The 24 rooms of the Accademia proceed in approximately chronological order. Things get off to a dramatic start in Room 1, where you can see a lively painting of the whore of Babylon riding a hydra while blood streams from her mouth. Exploring further, you will pass some beautiful pieces by the Venetian masters' Bellini and Carpaccio in Room 2, and a large, strikingly contrasted painting of a muscular John the Baptist by Titian in Room 6.

Rooms 12-19 are often used for expertly-curated temporary exhibitions, while Room 20 contains a magnificent cycle of works by Carpaccio, including “Cure of a lunatic” and “The Story of St. Ursula”. Don’t miss the relatively rare opportunity to see a large-scale collaboration piece in Room 24 – a large triptych by Antonio Vivarini and Giovanni d’Alemagna, hanging next to Titian’s “Presentation of the Virgin”.


Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Venice
Accademia Bridge
A beautiful wooden bridge, one of only four bridges to span the Grand Canal
Ca’ Rezzonico
This lavishly decorated palazzo houses impressive paintings, sculptures and glassware, preserving the past grandeur of Venetian patrician families.
Squerariol - Gondola Manufacturers
Watch the gondola manufactory process, a craft dating through the centuries.
Remer - gondola rows
Enjoy a demonstration of how the oars and rowlocks are designed and cut.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
This world-class waterfront museum features the work of world famous artists including Dalí, Picasso and Magritte.
Vitruvian Man
Though quite small, this work by Galileo is one of his most famous and hangs in the Accademia Galleries.

Related Tours

The Accademia Gallery of Venice: Private Guided Museum Tour
Enjoy a fascinating guided tour of The Accademia Gallery of Venice, one of the most popular and important museums in Venice, followed by a visit to the beautiful Frari Basilica where you'll see masterpieces by Titian, Donatello, Bellini, and the tomb of Canova and enjoy a scenic stroll through the San Polo neighbourhood to the Rialto Bridge. 

On your private tour you will: 

  • Admire some of the most stunning views of Venice from the Accademia bridge, one of only four bridges that span the Gran Canal; 
  • Enjoy a guided tour of The Accademia Gallery, the most important museum for Venetian Paintings and the city's most prestigious art gallery;
  • See paintings by Giorgione, Titian, Canaletto, Bellini, Da Vinci, and more as your expert guide shows you around this treasure trove of a museum;
  • Admire Veronese's vast canvas depicting The Feast in the House of Levi - the largest painting of the 16th century measuring 560cm by 1309cm;      
  • Learn about the brilliance and patriotic significance of Tintoretto's masterpiece the 'Miracle of the Slave' showing Saint Mark - patron saint of Venice - post-humously intervening in the torture of a slave for praying; 
  • Enjoy several splendid masterpieces of Venice by Canaletto - famous for his precise and atmospheric depictions of his home city;
  • Walk into the room reserved entirely for the massive works by Giovanni Bellini - Venice's influential and pivotal Renaissance artist; 
  • Gaze on the complex, multi-layered painting of The Tempest by Giorgione, a milestone painting in landscape and political allegory - and warning;
  • Explore the magnificent Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, the largest church in Venice that houses the tomb of Antonio Canova, Venice's beloved neo-classical sculptor; 
  • See extraordinary, priceless masterpieces in their original location, including the mesmerizing Assumption of the Virgin Altarpiece by Titan, the Pesaro Triptych by Giovanni Bellini, and St. John the Baptist by Donatello;
  • Let your guide expertly navigate you through the labyrinth of Venetian streets and see some of the locals' favourite meeting locations, such as Campo Santa Margherita and Campo San Polo especially popular during the Venetian Carnival;
  • Stop at the Rialto bridge, Venice's most famous bridge lined with artisanal Venetian shops - it is one of only four like it in the world;
  • End your tour in the Rialto area, where your guide can suggest a great cicchetteria for a well-deserved snack and a glass of wine or a spritz! 

Meet your private guide on the Accademia Bridge - with stunning views down the Gran Canal of Venice - to begin your fascinating private tour of the famous Accademia Gallery of Venice, followed by a visit to the magnificent Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, usually just called the Frari, and a scenic stroll through the San Polo district - ending by the famous Rialto Bridge. 

The Accademia or Gallerie dell'Accademia is famous for its incredible and extensive collection of Italian Renaissance masterpieces.  Founded in 1766, the Accademia Gallery is home to some of the finest examples of Venetian painting from the 13th to the 18th century, ranging in style from Byzantine, to Gothic to the Renaissance era and beyond. 

The collection tells the story of the evolution of this unique city on the water. It also houses many world-famous Renaissance masterpieces from Leonardo Da Vinci and Giorgione, as well as the crème de la crème of Venetian artists such as Titian, Bellini, Giorgione, and Tintoretto. 

You’ll also see Canaletto, Bellotto, and Longhi from the 1600s. With over 800 paintings, this is Venice’s most important museum of art, a must-see for all art lovers, and lovers of Venice. 

After your tour of the Accademia Gallery, take a short walk to the beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, the largest church in Venice, which boasts masterpieces by Titian, Bellini, and Donatello as well as the tomb of Antonio Canova - the exquisite neo-classical sculptor famous for his stunning sculptures of Cupid and Psyche, Paulina Bonaparte Borghese as Venus Victrix and many others. Canova died in 1822 in Venice and is buried here. 

Afterwards, explore the delightful and vibrant San Polo district and learn about local life in Venice!  San Polo is famous for its many aperitif and 'cicchetti' bars and trendy restaurants, the lively Rialto Market selling fresh produce, and of course the Rialto Bridge - possibly the most photographed bridge in Venice famous for being lined with shops and artisanal stalls - it is also the oldest bridge that crosses the Gran Canal, connecting San Polo with San Marco. 
 
Your tour ends in the Rialto area, where your guide will be happy to make recommendations for 'cicchetti'! 
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