Galleria dell'Accademia

The Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence is a purpose-built museum best known for housing Michelangelo’s original statue of David, a single-block Carrara-marble figure standing 5.17 meters tall. The museum concentrates on Florentine sculpture and painting from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.

The principal highlight is the David gallery, presented on a raised plinth; nearby rooms display several of Michelangelo’s unfinished figures and a focused collection of 13th-16th-century Florentine works. The museum’s compact size concentrates major works in a small number of rooms, which often creates queues for the David.

The Accademia acquired the David in the 19th century to protect it from environmental damage, and it has since been one of Florence’s most visited attractions. The museum sits a short walk from the Duomo and the city’s historic centre.

• David dimensions and relocation: Michelangelo's David is 5.17 meters tall and was moved indoors to this museum in 1873 to protect it from weathering and damage.
• Entry advice: The museum is compact and experiences long queues; pre-booked timed tickets are recommended to avoid long waits.

What to See #

• David (main gallery): Main gallery where Michelangelo's original statue, a single block of Carrara marble standing 5.17 meters tall, is displayed on a raised plinth.
• Unfinished Michelangelo sculptures: Rooms that display Michelangelo's unfinished figures, commonly called the Slaves or Prisoners, showing his working methods.
• Renaissance collections: Galleries of Florentine paintings and sculptures from the 13th to 16th centuries illustrating the city's artistic development.