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The Accademia Gallery: Beyond The World's Most Famous Silhouette
Via Ricasoli, 58-60113/R50122 Firenze (FI) http://www.visitflorence.com/florence-museums/accademia-gallery.htmlAbout
AddressVia Ricasoli, 58-60113/R50122 Firenze (FI)TicketFull euro 6,50Reduced euro 3,25(€ 11,00 with temporary exhibitions included) Opening hoursOpen from 8:15 a.m. to 6:50 p.m.Tuesdays through SundayDays of closureClosed on Mondays, January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th Must see's: Michelangelo's David and Prisoners Giambologna's Rape of the Sabines Botticelli's Madonna and Child and Madonna of the Sea The Galleria museum, as Florence's second most popular museum, also often has a long line. Despite the slightly higher cost of entrance, you could reserve your tickets online. If you're thinking of visiting the Galleria dell’Accademia, your most likely target are the magnificent giant marble sculptures created by Michelangelo, and above all, the glorious David. If you explore the museum with a bit more time, the Accademia will offer you much more in the less crowded halls, satisfying any curiosity for botany, music, art symbols and painting techniques. The Accademia welcomes the visitor in the Hall of the Colossus, name taken from the huge models of the Dioscuri of Montecavallo which were displayed in this large hall in the 19th century. It now hosts in the center the plaster model for the stunning marble sculpture of Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabine Women. Giambologna prepared the model as an exercise in creating a tightly-knit group of three figures from just one large block of marble. He did not actually name the sculpture, it was meant to be as a “simple” exercise of skill and it became the first example of such magnificent talent. Your glance will land upon the large number of panel paintings hanging on the four walls, such as works by Perugino, Filippino Lippi, Pontormo, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Bronzino. You might feel overwhelmed at first sight but if you take a seat around Giambologna’s plaster, you may comfortably enjoy this rich Renaissance collection and recognize two of the most important works. Next to the entrance on the right you’ll clearly pinpoint a narrow rectangular chest (Cassone Adimari). It is the front panel of a wedding chest belonging to the Adimari family, depicting a typical Florentine Renaissance wedding feast and portraying medieval streets, monuments (Baptistery on the left) and precious brocade garments witnessing the customs and wealth of the noble families of the 1450s. Left to the chest, you cannot miss a small shaped panel by Botticelli, the Madonna of the Sea. It owes its name to the dim seascape in the background and its charm is preserved in the gold fine details and symbols defining the two characters. The pomegranate held by baby Jesus, symbol of Christ passion and the star “Stella Maris”, glittering on Mary’s dark blue robe. If you go crazy for opera, theater and classic music, the Accademia is one of the best places you should visit. It hosts in fact the Grand Ducal collection of forty instruments exposed in the museum wing belonging to the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory. The collection unveils that music played a primary role in the official celebrations of the Medicean Court. Discover the roots of the invention of the Piano, created by Bartolomeo Cristofori for the Medici and explore the collection of Harpsichords, violins, violoncellos an wind instruments. Not to miss the original handmade Antonio Stradivari red spruce and maple wood “Medici violin” besides the multimedia explanation of the grandiose festivals arranged in town by the Medici in villas or theaters expressing proudly the richness of the fine cultural atmosphere of the 17th century. The most famous section of the Galleria is surely the Hall of the Prisoners, displaying Michelangelo’s unfinished “Slaves”. Today the arrangements of the Prisoners along the corridor is a growing crescendo of emotions to the feet of David, exposed under a circular skylight. Next to the Tribuna of David you’ll find
