The Galleria dell’Accademia is where Michelangelo’s David is located. The museum was built to show off David. To me there are 2 statutes in the world that are the most spectacular. One is Winged Victory of Samothrace or the Nike of Samothrace, which is a Greek marble statute located in the Louvre. The other is David. The detail in David is amazing. From the veins in his hands to the muscles, it is spectacular. A couple of interesting things to me are that David was designed to sit up high so the proportion of the hands and head is not accurate. It is said it would have looked more appropriate up high (note: I don’t think it looks add at all). The other thing that I love about David is that it came from a block of marble that another sculptor had discarded. Michelangelo then took it and created David. I do not understand how those Renaissance sculptors/painters were so prolific. It seems like it would take a lifetime to carve something that is 20 feet tall and huge; however, there are lots of sculptures of his all around (and they are huge) and that doesn’t even take into account the Sistine Chapel.

The museum contains other things besides David. It has several unfinished Michelangelo’s. They appear as if they are coming out of the marble. They are also extremely impressive works. Finally, the museum contains plasters which are models for marble sculptures from a variety of artists. The plasters are from some of the most famous sculptors and sculptures in Florence.

I suggest that you buy tickets in advance for the Galleria dell’Accademia. That way you do not have to wait in line. We went in late afternoon and there wasn’t much of a line, but I would still suggest prebuying so that you do not have to worry.