Florence: Accademia Gallery Tour with Brunelleschi’s Dome – Florence, Italy

EXPERIENCE:

Tour to Brunelleschi Cupola in Florence

After seeing the Duomo from all sides and visiting the cathedral inside, all you need to do to complete the experience is climb to the top of the cupola! The exterior view of the Cupola is a showstopper, but the only way to see the inside of the dome up close and enjoy the extraordinary sight of Florence is to climb its 463 steps (there is no elevator)

Your guide will talk you through how the Cupola was designed and built by Filippo Brunelleschi, who won the competition for its commission in 1418. The way up (and down) are tight corridors like the workmen who built the cathedral for maintenance. They were never thought of as being open to the public. On the dome’s interior, you can admire Giorgio Vasari’s frescoes of the Last Judgment (1572-9) up close with an interesting explanation of the frescoes from your guide on your way up to the top.

Look down, and on the base, just above the drum, you’ll see that Bacciod’Agnolo began adding a balcony in 1507 and how one of the eight sides was unfinished. There’s a story behind it, your guide will reveal it to you on your way as to why the work was immediately halted, and to this day, the other seven sides remain rough brick!

Once you climb to the top of the Cupola, you will be enchanted by the panoramic view of Florence city in front of your eyes. Your guide will discuss the history and art of this Duomo Square and answer any of your questions regarding Duomo. The tour takes about an hour, the perfect amount to listen and climb to the top of Cupola. You can also enjoy the view and spend more time on the top after the tour.

Tour to Accademia Gallery in Florence

The locally qualified guide will introduce you to the Accademia gallery museum revealing all the secrets about David and the other masterpieces hosted in it. After that quick detour, the guide will lead you to the Hall of the Colossus to see the works of art of Giambologna’s “Rape of the Sabines”, Cassone Adimari, Domenico Ghirlandaio’s solemn “St. Stephen between St. James and St. Peter”, then onto the main Hall of the Prisoners to learn more about the unfinished statues by Michelangelo “Slaves”, and the friendship and mutual influence with artist like Fra’ Bartolomeo, Pontormo, Granacci, etc.

Later, the guide will spend time at The Tribune, sharing all the information about the world-famous statue of Michelangelo, “David’s Statue”, and the Tribune Left Wing “, Allori’s Coronation of the Virgin Mary”. Finally, the guide will introduce you to the Gipsoteca Bartolini, the plaster casts of the Reclining Venus, Arnolfo, Brunelleschi, and Lorenzo Monaco, Documentation center on the first floor.

The tour takes about an hour, the perfect amount to see the highlights inside the museum without feeling overwhelmed. You can also return to anything you want to see again, including the David, after the tour ends.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

The home of Michelangelo’s original sculpture David
A passionate and art-lover local guide
Enjoy a spectacular view of the city
Climb to the top of the Cupola, the highest point in Florence
See an admirable creation of art by Filippo Brunelleschi

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