Galleria dell'Accademia Reviews (Florence, Italy)

Home of David

davao, Philippines

December 15, 2008

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo When in Florence, one of the definite things to do is see Michaelangelo's David in the Academia. That is definitely what we did after we finally had our lunch -- to search for the Academia.We finally found it and had around two hours left to go ...Read more

From journal A Day and a Half in Florence

Galleria dell'Accademia

by Lindy27

Manhattan, Kansas

December 12, 2008

Email
Print

This is the museum where the David is displayed. Other than the David there are a few statues also done by Michelangelo. The museum was packed while we were there, and pictures were not allowed. While I enjoyed the David I don't think it lived up ...Read more

From journal Florence and Orvieto, Italy

Fame Out of all Proportion to its Worth...

by Liam Hetherington

Manchester, United Kingdom

August 10, 2008

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo The Galleria dell’Accademia is well on the tourist trail. It houses possibly the most famous sculpture in the world, ‘David’, fashioned by the then 29-year-old Michelangelo Buonarroti.I found that not having pre-booked was not an issue when I ...Read more The Galleria dell’Accademia is well on the tourist trail. It houses possibly the most famous sculpture in the world, ‘David’, fashioned by the then 29-year-old Michelangelo Buonarroti.

I found that not having pre-booked was not an issue when I visited the Accademia. To be honest, I didn’t think there was an awful lot there for your €6.50. Michelangelo’s ‘David’ is of course the star attraction, a huge block of a man. It towers to the roof of the gallery, over five metres tall. But… and here’s where I can get into trouble… while I can recognise that this massive sculpture is of course a masterpiece, with such well-defined musculature and veinage, I have to say… it really isn’t all that. I sat staring at it, trying to work out what was wrong. David’s head seems all out of proportion. More than that, his hands are truly gigantic. All I ask is, look at his right hand. If he were to straighten his fingers and bend the hand back at the wrist he would be able to touch his own elbow. His thumb is roughly the same size as his, ahem, manhood. (Mind you, from the graffiti inside the toilet cubicle downstairs, some men obviously find that look attractive!)

I actually preferred Michelangelo’s unfinished ‘Prisoners’. These are partially carved blocks of marble, with half-formed figures seemingly clawing their way out. A face here, a shoulder there, here a thigh. It made the whole process of sculpture seem more organic, like each block has a form it wants to attain, and it is up to the artist to release it. Weird – I found the unfinished and discarded works spoke to me more than the acknowledged pinnacle of the sculpter’s art. But then, I’ve always been contrary.

The other rooms in the Galleria contain only plaster models, some Russian icons, and a few ho-hum gothic paintings – nothing to detain you. €6.50 is hence a lot to pay for not very much. And to be honest you can see a perfectly decent copy of David in its origoinal setting outside the Palazzo Vecchio, where the original once stood, for free. What more can be gained by seeing the ‘original’? I don’t know, other than to tick a box. The Prisoners are quite affecting, but on the whole my view is that you miss out on not very much by not paying a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia.
Close

From journal Florence, Birth-Place of the Renaissance

Accademia

by Ghost Train Rider

Austin, Texas

May 23, 2006

Email
Print

Home of Michelangelo's David, also has a few rooms with paintings that should not be skipped over. As you walk into the main room where you find David, don't hurry by the lined hallway with the unfinished "Prisoners" Sculpture, this is really ...Read more

From journal Florence - I'm Forever a Fan!

Galleria del'Accademia (David)

by Glamazon22

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

January 3, 2006

Email
Print

You cannot visit Florence and not see the David. Honestly, perfect in my opinion, Michelangelo's careful precision and attention to detail is clear on this piece of work. To see how someone could have sculpted such perfection into a big hunk of ...Read more

From journal Firenze Frenzy

Galleria Academia

by SvetaB

Cleveland, Ohio

December 30, 2005

Email
Print

The museum has an obscure entrance that looks like the entrance into a store. The lines to get in are, of course, very long, but they move surprisingly fast. We were inside within half an hour. I don't remember the exact price of admission, but I ...Read more

From journal A Day in Florence

Galleria del'Accademia

by Ed Hahn

Hong Kong, China

August 26, 2005

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo We have an early reservation at Accademia. What the reservation allows us to do is stand in the "reservation" line which is not clearly marked and can only be identified by asking people already in the line. The procedure is for the "reservation" ...Read more We have an early reservation at Accademia. What the reservation allows us to do is stand in the "reservation" line which is not clearly marked and can only be identified by asking people already in the line. The procedure is for the "reservation" people to be admitted about 15 minutes after their scheduled time. If there is room, then people from the "non-reservation" line are admitted.

In 1784, Pietro Leopoldo, the Grand Duke of Lorraine commissioned this museum by decreeing that all drawing schools in Florence were to be united into a single Academy containing a gallery of art works by old masters to help the studies of young artists. When we enter, we first see Giambologna’s original plaster model for the Rape of the Sabines located at the Loggia dei Lanzi. It also contains a number of 16th century works including some by Filippo Lippi.

Next we reach the Galleria dei Prigioni, a corridor containing a series of incomplete sculptures by Michelangelo. The most famous of these, the "Prisoners," is an extremely powerful piece in which the figures appear to be trying to emerge from the stone. Maybe it’s better unfinished.

At the end of the hall stands "David" in a specially designed room, built for it when it was moved here from the Piazza Del Signorina in 1873 after spending over 350 years subjected to the elements. I have never seen a statue that impresses me as much as Michelangelo's "David" does. It was commissioned in 1501; when the 26 year old Michelangelo was paid 400 scudi and given a leftover block of marble that a number of other artists had unsuccessfully tried to work on to create a sculpture to celebrate the glory of Florence.

In December, experts were cleaning the statue and the scaffolding was intrusive Today there is no scaffolding and I sit for over 30 minutes just looking at "David." How did Michelangelo create such a masterpiece at such a young age, especially one that so broke with the past? The statue illustrates the power of the young David as he prepares to battle the mighty Goliath. This is not only the greatest statue of the renaissance; it may be the greatest sculpture of all time.

There is one extremely interesting side exhibit in which you can view the statue in virtual reality from any angle you wish, even from above. The two wings next to "David" contain some very beautiful 16th century paintings including a couple by Botticelli. The far room on the left contains a large collection of plaster casts by 19th century Tuscan artists that palls quickly since they are all copies of other works. There are two rooms of interesting medieval art and religious artifacts including the "Tree of Life" on the way towards the exit. The problem is that all is overwhelmed by the power of "David."

The Accademia closes on Mondays. The entrance fee is steep but worth it. No picture taking.

Close

From journal Fabulous, Fantastic Florence

Galleria del'Accademia (David)

by karameister

Saint Paul, Minnesota

June 22, 2005

Email
Print

David is obviously the center of the museum. He's incredible - he was meant to be gazed upon for hours. They were renovating him when I visited, but I believe he is done now. The rest of the museum is fairly typical. It's nothing to sneeze at, ...Read more

From journal Florence: European Art and History Paradise

Accademia

by *Fer*

México City, Alabama

October 11, 2004

Email
Print

You don't want to miss this place! Here you'll find the gorgeous David by Michelangelo, and there are other amazing sculptures done by this great artist, including one resembling a man trying the get out of the stone where he is trapped. At the ...Read more

From journal Cultural Firenze

Accademia

by RockWitch

Vancouver, British Columbia

October 9, 2004

Email
Print

The Accademia hosts Michelangelo's sculpture of David, a truly spectacular piece of art. It also hosts a variety of his sculptures entitled Slave. These are very moving pieces of work. While visiting, we managed to visit on a Tuesday night when ...Read more

From journal Renaissance Italy

IgoUgo

Galleria dell'Accademia

Avg. User Rating:

User Reviews

Home of David

Galleria dell'Accademia

Fame Out of all Proportion to its Worth...

Accademia

Galleria del'Accademia (David)

Galleria Academia

Galleria del'Accademia

Galleria del'Accademia (David)

Accademia

Accademia

Compare Rates Across Websites

Galleria dell'Accademia

What's Nearby?

Nearby Things to Do

Popular Florence Hotels

Popular Things to Do in Florence

Avg. User Rating:

User Reviews

Home of David

Galleria dell'Accademia

Fame Out of all Proportion to its Worth...

Accademia

Galleria del'Accademia (David)

Galleria Academia

Galleria del'Accademia

Galleria del'Accademia (David)

Accademia

Accademia

Compare Rates Across Websites