The Accademia Gallery, a meeting with Michelangelo

The entrance to the Accademia Gallery - Galleria dell'Accademia in Italian - is on a seemingly uneventful street, Via Ricasoli, in the San Marco district. But the queue stretching along the pavement leaves no doubt as to the importance of the place from a historical and tourist point of view!

And with good reason: the Florence Academy of Drawing was founded in the 16th century by Cosimo I de' Medici, with Michelangelo as its first president in 1566! It was not until much later, at the end of the 18th century, that the Galleria dell'Accademia was opened, an art gallery where university students could study works by the great masters.

Today, the Galleria dell'Accademia is one of Florence's three main museums, along with the Uffizi Gallery, in the historic centre, and the Museo San Marco, a stone's throw away. The reason for its popularity with the general public, and for the waiting time to enter the museum: a statue classified as one of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance art, Michelangelo's David.

The crowd in the aisles of the Galleria dell'Accademia gathers in front of him: a veritable colossus, over 5 metres high, carved directly from a block of the finest white Carrara marble: David preparing to confront Goliath armed with a slingshot was the theme chosen by Michelangelo for what undoubtedly remains his greatest masterpiece.

Originally, the statue of David, carved between 1501 and 1504, stood in the Piazza della Signoria (where its copy now stands) to symbolise the young Republic of Florence facing up to its enemies. Michelangelo, probably the most gifted sculptor in the history of art, outdid himself with his David! Take time to admire the details...

A number of other sculptures by the master can be found throughout the exhibition, including the Pietà di Palestrina and the Slaves in the Galleria dei Prigioni, both of which appear to be in the form of sketches. There are also a number of major works, including the largest collection of Michelangelo's works in the world.

Other rooms display paintings by Renaissance masters such as Botticelli, Uccello, Ghirlandaio and Lippi, to prolong the pleasure of your visit...