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Gallery of the Academy of Florence
2026 Europe 50 - Best Things to Do

Gallery of the Academy of Florence

9.5
4.5/5
563 reviews
The Gallery of the Academy of Florence was established in 1784 by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo of Tuscany through the reorganization of Florence's art education institutions. It is located on the former sites of the San Matteo Hospital and the San Niccolò Monastery, with its origins tracing back to the Academy of Drawing Arts founded by Cosimo I de' Medici in 1563. The gallery's collection initially served as a teaching resource for students to copy original works. In 1873, to protect Michelangelo's David from exposure to the elements in Piazza della Signoria, the statue was secured on a wooden cart and transported through the center of Florence to the gallery. As the dedicated exhibition hall was not yet completed, it remained sealed in a wooden crate for nine years until the Tribune of David, designed by architect Emilio De Fabris, was finished and opened to the public. Today, David stands bathed in natural light from the skylight above, drawing countless visitors who come specifically to see it. The museum also displays a concentrated collection of Michelangelo's four unfinished sculptures, "The Prisoners," originally carved for Pope Julius II's tomb, along with the equally incomplete "St. Matthew." The human figures appear to be breaking free from the rough stone, offering a direct experience of his "unfinished" sculptural language. At the center of the Hall of the Colossus near the entrance stands Giambologna's full-scale terracotta model for the marble group "The Rape of the Sabine Women," created for the Loggia dei Lanzi. Surrounding it are 15th- to 16th-century Florentine paintings by Botticelli, Perugino, Filippino Lippi, and others. The 19th-century hall, originally a women's hospital ward, now replicates the studio of Lorenzo Bartolini, displaying plaster models. The museum also houses a musical instruments section, featuring a Stradivari viola and cello once owned by the Medici family, as well as early keyboard instruments made by Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano. The visitor route extends from the Hall of the Colossus at the entrance to the Hall of David at the end. Most travelers turn back to the exit after seeing "David," leaving the painting galleries and the musical instrument department on both sides with sparse crowds, making them great places for quiet art viewing. The museum is not large and has a clear layout. Long queues at the entrance are common during the peak season, but the painting galleries and musical instrument exhibition areas are less crowded and worth visiting as well.Florence · 1.1 km from downtown
Giotto's Bell Tower
No. 9 of Best Things to Do in Tuscany

Giotto's Bell Tower

7.8
4.6/5
321 reviews
Giotto's Bell Tower is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, standing close to one side of the cathedral. Together with the cathedral's facade and the octagonal baptistery, it forms the Piazza del Duomo. Designed by the painter Giotto, construction began in 1334. At the time of his death, only the ground floor was completed. The work was subsequently continued by Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti, and the tower was completed in 1359. The tower features Florentine Gothic style with a square plan and stands approx. 85 m tall. Its exterior walls are adorned with geometric patterns in white, red, and green marble, color-coordinated with the cathedral's facade. The tower body is divided into 5 layers: the bottom layer is a closed structure without windows, decorated with relief panels on all sides depicting the origins of humanity and various crafts such as farming, weaving, astronomy, and medicine, like an illustrated encyclopedia carved in stone; the niches in the upper layer contain white marble statues of prophets and sibyls, with all currently seen being replicas; the several layers above were added later and feature large window openings. The bell tower has no elevator, and reaching the top requires climbing over 400 steps. The staircase is narrow, and during peak times, you can only move slowly, so it's advisable to assess your physical condition. However, once you stand on the tower's top platform, you'll have a panoramic view of Florence's old town with its red-tiled roofs and a close-up look at the cathedral's iconic red dome. This spot also offers a rare angle for an overhead shot of the cathedral's full view.Florence · 656m from downtown

Experiences you can't miss in Florence

Featured Culture & history in Florence

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Uffizi Gallery: Reserved Entry + Digital Audio Guide
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Florence: Firenze Card Official Museum City Pass
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Accademia Gallery: Entry Ticket + Official Audio Guide
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Florence: Accademia Gallery Small Group Tour
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Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens: 5-Day Combo Pass
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Florence Cathedral, Baptistery & Museum: Entry Ticket + Audioguide
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Featured Spa & wellness in Florence

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Chianciano Terme: Theia Thermal Pools Entrance Ticket
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Duration: 10 hrs
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Chianciano Terme: Sensory Spa Admission Ticket
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Montecatini Terme Thermal Pool Entrance Ticket
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Florence: Relax Pass for Asmana Wellness World Spa & Drink
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Florence: Asmana Spa, Frescobaldi Wine Tasting & Transfer
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Featured Day tours in Florence

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Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano Day Trip with optional Lunch & Wine Pairing
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Day Tour From Florence To Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni & Chianti Wine Region With Wine Tasting
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Full Day Excursion to Cinque Terre National Park with Optional Street Food Lunch
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Best of Florence walking tour including skip the line visit to the Duomo Cathedral
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Chianti Delights: A Tale Of Two Wineries With A Vineyard Dinner
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Skip the line: Florence Duomo Cathedral small group guided tour
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Private Renaissance Discovery Tour of Florence
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Featured Food & drink in Florence

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Pasta Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine in Florence
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4.9/5
· 888 reviews· 69 booked
Duration: 150 mins
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Florence Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine
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Tuscany Experience: Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano & Wine Tasting
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Duration: 690 mins
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Pasta & Pesto Class with a View, plus Tiramisù & opt. Market Tour
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Small-Group Wine Tasting Experience in the Tuscan Countryside
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Duration: 285 mins
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Florence Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class With Wine - Cooking Italy
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Duration: 3 hrs
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Full Day Tour to Val d'Orcia with Wine & Cheese Tastings
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Florence Cooking Class: Lasagna, Tiramisu & Market or Pasta Class
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Florence Cruises

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What travellers say about Florence

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Dreamer2002October 27, 2026
5.0
⛪ Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence 🇮🇹 — A Renaissance Wonder! ✨Visiting Florence’s magnificent cathedral, also known as the Duomo, was an unforgettable experience! ❤️ Its breathtaking marble façade, intricate details, and iconic red dome make it one of Italy’s most beautiful architectural masterpieces. 🏛️😍What impressed me most was Brunelleschi’s extraordinary dome, an engineering achievement that still inspires admiration centuries later. The atmosphere of Piazza del Duomo is equally magical, especially in the early morning. 🌅📸💡 Travel tip: Cathedral entry is free, but climbing the 463 steps to the dome requires a paid reservation. The panoramic views over Florence are absolutely spectacular! 🏙️❤️ A must-see destination where art, history, and Renaissance architecture come together beautifully!#Florence #SantaMariaDelFiore #DuomoDiFirenze #ItalyTravel

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

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Blessed by GodSeptember 28, 2022
5.0
such a lovely place, the duomo or cathedral is very big that I cannot take a picture of the whole cathedral. Even if I have seen it several times I always love to visit and see it again and again.

Piazza del Duomo

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M49***83October 6, 2026
5.0
The explanation was incredibly detailed and insightful; it truly lives up to its reputation as a World Heritage Site. Thank you to the Medici family for their wise decision to leave us such priceless treasures. Exploring the world on foot, I successfully checked off this charming and artistically rich ancient city. I love it! 😻

Uffizi Gallery

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Anonymous userOctober 24, 2026
4.0
It is worth a visit if you want to see David and you are into Christianity painting, sculpture and stuffs

Gallery of the Academy of Florence

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蓝篮~April 4, 2026
5.0
It's worth a visit. Although I don't know much about Florence, I just wanted to check it off my list and get a feel for it. I recommend splitting your time between visiting the Pitt Palace and the Uffizi Gallery. You can go to the Pitt Palace around 8 am and spend most of the day exploring it at your own pace. Because of time constraints, we didn't get to see much of the Boboli Gardens. Our accommodation near the train station was quite convenient. This was my second time in Florence, and I'd probably come back for a third time if I had the chance.

Pitti Palace

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Nath1176September 20, 2026
4.0
You certainly need to be reasonably fit to manage the steps to the top of the tower, walked past quite a few people struggling for breathe 🤣 At the moment there is scaffolding around the tower which does impact some of the views but still worth a visit. The ticket also gives you access to the museum, cathedral and the baptistery so provided good value for money and a good way to spend a few hours

Giotto's Bell Tower

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M56***64May 11, 2026
5.0
The towers of the Old Palace are well worth climbing; they offer panoramic views of the city and the Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore). However, climbing the cathedral itself would obscure the view of the Old Palace itself. The interior of the Old Palace is also magnificent, with many rooms open to the public. However, the rooms are mostly furnished with frescoes and few other pieces of furniture or decoration.

Palazzo Vecchio

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Lavender and SunOctober 8, 2021
5.0
The cultural center of Europe, the birthplace of the European Renaissance, the birthplace of opera, and a world-famous cultural tourist destination. Built in 1345, the Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence. The Ponte Vecchio was formerly the corridor from the Uffizi Palace to the Pitti Palace across the river.

Piazza della Signoria

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Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in Florence?

Don't miss these attractions in Florence: Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza del Duomo, and Uffizi Gallery. If you like Culture & history, try [Florence combo ticket] Uffizi + Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens | Separate or combo admission ticket. If you enjoy Spa & wellness, try Chianciano Terme: Theia Thermal Pools Entrance Ticket.

You can give Pasta Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine in Florence and Florence Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano Day Trip with optional Lunch & Wine Pairing, Day Tour From Florence To Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni & Chianti Wine Region With Wine Tasting, and Full Day Excursion to Cinque Terre National Park with Optional Street Food Lunch. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of October 31, 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Florence is around NZD 55.49 – NZD 574.64. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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