The Galleria dell'Accademia is one of Florence's most important museums. It boasts a very valuable collection of sculpture, as well as extensive collections of paintings and pictures, especially from the Renaissance and Gothic periods.

By far the most admired exhibit in the gallery is the sculpture of David by Michelangelo Buonarotti. Travellers often confuse the Florence gallery with the gallery of the same name in Venice.

Official website: galleriaaccademiafirenze.it

Michelangelo's statue of David

Michelangelo's Statue of David is probably the most famous sculptural work of art in history. The Renaissance statue was created between 1501 and 1504 and is still considered one of the most perfect representations of the proportions of the male body.

The statue depicts the biblical David before his duel with Goliath. It is made of white marble and reaches a height of 517 cm.

The statue was formerly placed in front of the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio, but during the 18th century cracks were discovered in the statue due to weathering. In 1873, the original statue was moved to the Galleria dell'Accademia and a faithful copy was installed in the outdoor area, where it still stands today.

Other collections of the gallery

The statue of David may be the museum's biggest draw, but it's certainly not the only one. It also displays four other unfinished Michelangelo sculptures and, most notably, an extensive collection of paintings by Florentine artists from the Gothic to the Renaissance.

Certainly, the nearby Galleria degli Uffizi will offer more illustrious names, but the collections here are also among the most valuable in Italy. The gallery features works by artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Paolo Uccello, Francesco Granacci and Domenico di Michelino.