An evening at the Accademia Gallery
2015
It’s September, but Florence is still crowded and museums are often packed. Far to be snob, I consider myself a Florentine, even if I’ve been living here only since 2013. Maybe, because I feel a local, sometimes you risk to take all this beauty for granted.. That’s why last Tuesday I visited the Accademia Gallery, which is now open until 10 pm twice a week.
Accademia Gallery Entrance
I decided to follow a guided tour starting at 7 pm and, thanks to the advanced booking, I didn’t stay in line more than 5 minutes. We were quite a small group, following our knowledgeable guide, a smiling girl graduated in History of art. She escorted us through the museum, which presents collections from several periods, an aspect that could have been confusing without explanations.
Accademia Sculptures
In the first room you find paintings from 1400s with early works by Botticelli and Filippino Lippi, among others. I was a bit confused when I saw, almost in the middle of the room, the imposing sculptural group of the Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna – which stands in the Loggia dei Lanzi – this is a real exception: the unfired clay model is closed in a museum, while the original one stands in an open air museum!
The rape of the Sabine Women
The Accademia museum gathered also a collection of wooden panels from the 1300s, models for sculptures made in 1800s, precious musical instruments – never heard the name Stradivari?! – and last but not least.. the Tribune dedicated to Michelangelo and paintings by his contemporaries.
Stradivari Violin
Admiring the David is an emotion simply ineffable! I didn’t suspect that Michelangelo sculpted it in solitude when he was only 26 years old. Not to mention the story about this huge block of marble, abandoned in the Opera’s laboratory, neglected by more expert sculptors for more than 25 years because of its imperfections..
David by Michelangelo
I won’t write to much ’cause I don’t want to spoil you the surprise of such a visit! It lasts about 1 hour, but if you like you can remain inside the museum, even sitting next to David’s statue, in peace, gathering your thoughts, coming out refreshed and richer!
Valerie
Book here your Accademia Gallery Guided Visit at Sunset!