In the words of Michelangelo: 'There is no greater harm than that of time wasted".
And in tribute to the master himself we have created this custom tour to make sure that your visit to Florence includes the chance to spend quality time up close and personal with one of man’s greatest creations - the Statue of David.
In 1563, the great patron of the arts Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, had the vision to fuse the ‘Company’ of professional artists with the ‘Academy’, creating a school for the renowned artists of the time - the ‘Accademia e Compagnia delle Arti del Disegno’ was born. 200 years later, a subsequent Grand Duke, Pietro Leopoldo, demonstrated the same wherewithal by consolidating all the city’s art schools into one unique institution – the ‘Accademia di Belle Arti’. It remains as unforgettable today as it must have been at its inception.
The star of course is David, however he is joined by a supporting cast of mesmerizing 15th and 16th renaissance art, which is, along with Bistecca alla Fiorientina and fine leatherwork, a native son of Florence.
Our friendly team of art historians will guide you through the ancient Hall of the Colossus, where you will find works by Botticelli, Paolo Uccello, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Perugino, which adorned Florentine churches in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Experience the Hall of the Prisoners where you will find unfinished yet hauntingly beautiful nudes by Michelangelo known as the ‘prisoners’, ‘slaves’, or ‘Captives’, before entering the magnificent Tribune of David - the realm of the magnificent original statue as well as other 16th century marvels.
A quirk and pleasant highlight of the Accademia is the Hall of the Musical Instruments – around 50 instruments belonging to the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory from the Grand Ducal collection.
Skipping this tour may not be a waste of time, however certainly a wasted opportunity.