The "Accademia Gallery" Museum
Address: Via Ricasoli no. 60
Location: Florence - [Tuscany- Italy]

Description: The museum is situated in Via Ricasoli, no.60, just past the Academy of Fine Arts. The Museum of Accademia is housed in a complex of buildings belonged to the Ancient Hospital of St. Matteo of which still remain only the Renaissance portico enriched by the Della Robbia's lunettas.

Since 1873 the Accademia museum also houses the statue of Michelangelo's David (the one which stands in Piazza della Signoria, even if beautiful,  is a replica.)  The David was executed between the 1502 and 1504 and its youth and physical strength  became the symbol of the Florentine Republic.

The first room contains the original plaster model by Giambologna for the marble sculptures of the Rape of the Sabines (the replica is on the Loggia dei Lanzi in Piazza della Signoria) and 16th century works from the Mannerist school.

The gallery displays many paintings (mostly of Tuscan school) from the 13th to the 15th century. Worthy of note are the "Albero della Vita" (Tree of life),  by Pacino di Bonaguida, the "Trinitą" (trinity) by Baldovinetti,  Madonna del Mare (Madonna of the sea) attributed to Botticelli, the Panels for the Holy Cross by Taddeo Gaddi (1330),  Deposition from the Cross by Filippino Lippi and Perugino, a beautiful "Pietą", a masterpiece executed by Giovanni da Milano in 1365, Mary Magdalene by Giotto, and the famous "Cassone Adimari" featuring a bridal procession, a work by Masaccio. The Museum also preserves many important works by the famous sculptor Michelangelo such as the "Statue of St. Matteo" (1505) , the "Pietą of Palestrina"

The Museum also has a collection of plaster casts. 

Recently the Accademia has enriched the art collection with a section dedicated to ancient musical instruments coming from the collections of  Medici's and Lorena's families amomg which the most famous are a tenor viola by Stradivari (1690), another  violin by Stradivari (1716) and a violoncello by Niccolo' Amati (1650).

For information and bookings:  Telephone +39  055/294883

Closed on Monday

 

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