The Accademia Gallery

The Accademia Gallery was founded as a hospital in the 14th century. It was later used as the Academy of Fine Arts, and became famous all over the world have become the home of Michelangelo’s masterpiece:  ”David”, sculpted between 1501 and 1504, intended to be a decoration outside of the Duomo of Florence, it became instead a symbol of commitment of the Florentine State for freedom and independence, as well as a symbol of the fall of the Medici (1494). This work of art represents the energy, vigor and courage, symbolizing the entire fight for the survival of the human race. Its anatomy, reproduced later by Michelangelo’s contemporaries, was built carefully, thanks to the deep study carried by the great artist.

In addition to David, here are 4 statues of Slaves, commissioned by Pope Julius II as a decoration of his tomb, called “I Prigioni”(The Prisons) and also “La pietà” (the mercy) and “San Matteo”. In the premises taken from two ancient monasteries, were collected, from the nineteenth century, important works of art from the Academy of Design, the Academy of Fine Arts and from suppressed convents. It is mostly paintings of religious subjects, by major artists who have passed through Florence and the surrounding area from the second half of the thirteenth century to the end of the sixteenth century. In particular, the collection of gold-ground paintings is unique in the world. In the halls of the first floor you can admire a magnificent collection of late Gothic altarpieces.

The Accademia Gallery is also home to the collection of plaster casts of two nineteenth century sculptors Lorenzo Bartolini and Luigi Pampaloni, and a collection of Russian icons. Recently the museum has been enriched with the Department of Musical Instruments, which includes ancient and important instruments of Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini, from the Medici and Lorraine collections .