The Galleria dell’Accademia is an art museum in Florence, Italy, best known as the permanent home of Michelangelo’s David, the monumental marble sculpture completed between 1501 and 1504. The gallery has housed the original statue since 1873, when it was moved indoors from Piazza della Signoria to protect it from weather damage.
Beyond David, the museum’s collection includes Michelangelo’s unfinished “Prisoners” sculptures, a gallery of Renaissance paintings, and a collection of historic musical instruments once belonging to the Medici and Lorraine families. The purpose-built Tribune gallery, designed specifically to showcase David under a skylight, remains one of the most photographed rooms in Florence.
The Galleria dell’Accademia is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15 AM to 6:50 PM (last entry 6:20 PM) and closed on Mondays, January 1, and December 25; timed-entry tickets are strongly recommended, especially in peak season. Arriving right at opening or after 5 PM tends to mean shorter lines and a quieter view of the statue.
