The Accademia Gallery, originally born to exhibit the creations of the first Florence Art School, currently houses famous artworks from the Middle Age to the Counter-Reformation, a plaster casts gallery created by Lorenzo Bartolini and a section with musical instruments belonged to Medici and Lorraine families between 1600 and 1700.

In 1563, together with Giorgio Vasari, the Grand Duke Cosimo I of the Medicis founded the first real art school in Florence, “Accademia del Disegno” (academy of drawing), whose headquarters were located inside San Luca chapel, within Basilica di Santissima Annunziata.

Michelangelo Buonarroti was  the one who inspired the style of the artists of the Accademia. In the following decades and centuries, his name fascinated the attention of many Italian artists who wanted to be part of the Accademia.

Among them, Agnolo Bronzino, Benvenuto Cellini, Bartolomeo Ammannati, Tiziano, Tintoretto, Palladio and Artemisia Gentileschi, the first woman to be admitted to the Accademia.

The Basilica of Santissima Annunziata was the main location for many years; then, in 1784, Grand Duke Peter Leopold renamed it as Accademia di Belle Arti and changed its location.

What mostly contributes to the worldwide popularity of the Accademia Gallery is the sculpture of David, symbol of the Florence freedom, preceded by the Prisoners - both created by Michelangelo, the last ones are sculpted with the unfinished technique, a peculiar one, distinguishing Michelangelo style. In 1873 the David was relocated from Piazza della Signoria to the Accademia Gallery in order to be saved from bad weather conditions and vandalism.