Galleria dell'Accademia

The Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze, or "Gallery of the Academy of Florence," is an art museum in Florence, Italy. It is best known as the home of Michelangelo's sculpture David, welcoming visitors worldwide. It also has other sculptures by Michelangelo and a collection of Renaissance paintings.

One of the most famous sculptures in the world

The statue of David is carved in marble between 1501 and 1504. It was an unprecedentedly short time considering its size. The sculpture depicts a celebrated Biblical hero who slew the giant Goliath with just one stone to his forehead. Michelangelo was brilliant at portraying an image of strength and courage, which can be seen in his depiction of David. The Galleria dell'Accademia has housed the original David since 1873.

A Michelangelo museum

The Galleria dell'Accademia was founded by Pietro Leopoldo, Grand Duke of Tuscany, under the influence of Vincenzo Viviani, who wanted it to include the "best models from all over Italy." 

The original intention was to create a "Michelangelo museum," with original drawings and reproductions of his work. Primarily, the majority of art space was filled with works by Michelangelo, including some of his earliest sculptures. But in 1873, Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany, proposed that the academy's collection should be enriched by new masterpieces devoted to Tuscan art. It was a controversial concept, as it would mean abandoning the museum's original purpose as a gallery of ancient art. However, the proposal eventually gained support and the Italian government agreed to finance it.

Opened in 1784, it is one of the oldest museums in Europe. Art lovers from all over the world come to see original drawings and reproductions of Michelangelo's work along with paintings from fourteenth-century Florentine artists such as Vasari, Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino. It doesn't matter if you are an art snob or not; Galleria dell'Accademia is a must-see at least once.