florence

One of the most famous galleries in the world is the Accademy Gallery located at Via Ricasoli, 58, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy. Mainly known to be the shelter of Michelangelo’s David and different sculptures from known Renaissance artists.

The gallery opens at 8:15 AM and closes at 6:50 PM. Our group went as early as possible to avoid long lines at the entrance. During the time we went there, the walk-in tickets cost 8 euros , but according to sources, the ticket prices vary from season to season. Looking at the ticket price on the Galleria’s site, the gallery has three visitor categories, the full paying (for non-EU citizens 18 and over and all EU citizens over 25 years old), reduced (EU citizens between 18 and 25 years old) and free admission (applies for children under 18, PWD, International Council of Museums members, and journalists with valid ID showing professional status).

By the time we were there, the line was short. It just took 2 minutes for us to wait for our turn to buy our tickets, proceed to security check, and finally enter the gallery. The gallery is enormous and “treasure-ful” so allot extra hours to enjoy artseeing, plus taking pictures (no flash) is allowed.

The first sculpture upon entry is Giambologna’s The Rape of the Sabine Women located at the middle of a big hall (Hall of Collosus) with walls decorated by numerous artworks which mainly focus religious subjects. Giambologna’s work is very powerful, even just seeing it for the first time. Some artists in the the Collosus include Paolo Uccello, Perugino, Filippino Lippi, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, Andrea di Giusto, and Alesso Baldovinetti.

On the left exit from the Hall of Collosus is the start of a journey to the Hall of Prisoners and The Tribune where Michelangelo’s works are placed. There lined the unfinished sculptures of Michelangelo which are nude men who were slaves or captives for the grandiose project for the tomb of Pope Julius II della Rovere. Across the hall is where the great David stands.

Alley of all nudes. I am an art lover, not nearly an expert, so I innocently asked my mates why. Pao, my boyfriend, said that it’s because details of garments take more effort than the details of a naked body. But we searched for Michelangelo’s ‘obsession’ to naked bodies. We found that Michelangelo loved nudes just because it is real, and he wants, as much as possible, to imitate reality.

Let me share here a piece from http://www.italianways.com/michelangelos-studies-and-sketches-nudes-and-mens-maliciousness

“The author of this essay, written in the form of a letter to a friend of his, also adds, “You might remember, dear friend, his answer to the person who asked him on behalf of the Pope to cover up the nakedness in the Sistine Chapel frescos: ‘Tell the Pope this is a small issue that can easily be fixed; if he can fix the world, fixing the painting will take little time’ (Vasari, ‘Vita di Michelangelo’). With these words, he meant to say that evil was not in imitating reality, but in men’s maliciousness” (“Lettera di Michelangiolo Buonarroti pubblicata ed illustrata dal prof. Sebastiano Ciampi”, D. Passigli e socj, Florence 1834).”

Since then, we have those people who possess, as we call it today (in Filipino), “MALAYANG KAISIPAN”. Mabuhay ka Michelangelo!!!

Gipsotecca Bartolini, another hall full of sculptures. From very peaceful to very terrifying sculptures can be seen lined up across the hall. Never touch the artworks, theyre fragile.

The gallery also has a collection of the Florentine gothic paintings from 13th and early 14th century which can be visited after the Gipsotecca bartolini hall. What to expect from the florentine gothic paintings are its vibrant colors and gold (a lot gold). See sample photos below.

Finally, the last stop is the hall of musical instruments for music lovers. There displayed musical instruments from 16th-17th century.