What is the Galleria dell'Accademia?
The Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence is most famous for being home to the original statue of David, the masterpiece of Renaissance art completed by Michelangelo in 1504. It also contains a number of other pieces of Michelangelo's work. Other Florentine artists from the 13-16th centuries are also on display, including Botticelli, del Sarto and Ghirlandaio.
What is the Galleria dell'Accademia like?
It's smaller than the nearby Uffizi, which means that it gets very busy. The statue of David is spectacular - the pictures don't do it justice - but otherwise the experience felt crowded and rushed.
Where is the Galleria dell'Accademia?
Florence, Italy
When did we go?
March 2023How did we get there?
We flew to Pisa, where we visited the Leaning Tower, and then caught a train to Florence. The train journey was very simple and took around an hour. We also saw Florence's Duomo (112) and the Uffizi Gallery.Worth noting:
I had to book a tour of the Galleria dell'Accademia, as there were no tickets left. This turned out to be a good decision: the guide was great and I learned a lot about the sculptures and paintings that I wouldn't have known otherwise.The Galleria dell'Accademia's position in the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist 2015 edition:
It was a new entry in the 2020 edition.Does the Galleria dell'Accademia deserve its place in the 2020 top 500?
I'm not sure.
