Florence's Accademia Tour: See David, Prisoners, and More

A guided tour of the Accademia Gallery will allow you to appreciate the artistic legacy of Florence while viewing one of the world’s most important art collections.

You will have a chance to view an extraordinary variety of masterpieces created during the Gothic and Renaissance periods, and learn about the rich history behind these works.

You will avoid any waiting time by using priority admission, to allow you to have quicker access to this famous museum and view several of the most famous artwork from Western art history.

As you walk through the Accademia Gallery, you will find a vast artistic collection of several hundred years in length.

An experienced English-speaking guide will accompany you throughout your exploration and provide thorough explanation of each individual painting and sculpture to help you gain a deeper understanding of the artistic techniques, historical context and cultural influence of the period of the Renaissance, which was a significant change in the history of art.

At the center of your tour is Michelangelo's David; a celebrated representation of Florence, and a shining example of Renaissance art.

This splendid work measures over 17 feet tall, and it encapsulates not only human strength, beauty, and the time in which it was produced but also showcases Michelangelo's outstanding knowledge of human anatomy, and his extraordinary skill at creating life from stones.

When you are in front of Michelangelo's David, your guide will explain each of the historical events that happened during the statue's development, including the challenges Michelangelo faced while creating the statue, and the profound symbolism behind what has become one of the great masterpieces in the history of art.

You will discover that the Accademia Gallery has more to offer than just David.

The gallery has more sculptures by Michelangelo; specifically The Prisoners or Slaves, which are famous for their incompleteness and for giving us insight into the artist's creative process.

These sculptures help us realize that the struggle portrayed in the sculptures represents Michelangelo's belief that the sculptor's job is to liberate the human body from stone.

The guide will provide information on the significance of the sculptures and how they demonstrate the artist's developing techniques and philosophy.

As you progress through the exhibit, you will find a broad range of art from the two major art periods of Europe: Gothic and Renaissance.

A selection of the major paintings by significant Italian artists will be presented.

Two major artists of this era were Sandro Botticelli, whose paintings represent the beauty and elegance of both mythological and religious subject matter, and Filippo Lippi, whose work features strong religious connotations.

These two painters and the many artworks that are included provide a representative sample of the high point of Florentine artistic achievement and the culture and politics of Florence.