March 8, Free Entry for Women at Galleria dell’Accademia

The Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence celebrates International Women’s Day with free admission for all women. This special occasion, observed in Italy since March 8, 1922, aims to highlight women’s achievements in social, political, economic, and cultural spheres while fostering discussions on gender equality and women’s rights.

Culture has always played a vital role in the path toward female empowerment, serving as a platform for often-overlooked voices and as a space for dialogue on crucial issues. Today, Florentine women and visitors from around the world will have the unique opportunity to explore the Galleria dell’Accademia for free and immerse themselves in the stories and grandeur of female figures who lived between the 13th and 19th centuries. The museum’s collection showcases intellectuals, painters, politicians, and models of resilience, determination, and ambition—women whose legacy spans from Late Gothic painting to the 19th-century sculptures of Lorenzo Bartolini.

The origins of the Galleria dell’Accademia date back to 1784 when Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo of Tuscany reorganized the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno, originally founded in 1563 by Cosimo I de’ Medici, into the modern Academy of Fine Arts. The institution occupied the historic premises of the 14th-century Hospital of San Matteo and the Convent of San Niccolò di Cafaggio. The museum’s collection grew significantly with the suppression of churches and convents under Pietro Leopoldo in 1786 and Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810.

A pivotal moment in the museum’s history was the relocation of Michelangelo’s David from Piazza della Signoria to the Accademia in August 1873. The world-famous sculpture remained stored in a wooden crate for nine years until the completion of the Tribune, designed by architect Emilio De Fabris, to house it. The Galleria dell’Accademia as it is known today was officially established in 1882.

The museum boasts one of the most significant collections of paintings and sculptures globally, featuring Michelangelo’s statues, including the renowned David, along with an extensive collection of early Italian paintings. Equally notable is the collection of models and plaster casts by Lorenzo Bartolini and his pupil, Luigi Pampaloni, which form the Gipsoteca in the grand 19th-century Hall. Additionally, the museum houses musical instruments from the Medici and Lorraine grand dukes, many originating from the collection of the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory in Florence.

The Galleria dell’Accademia will be open today from 8:15 AM to 6:50 PM, with the last admission at 6:20 PM. Free entry is available for all women, while a reservation service remains active for a fee of €4 via phone at +39 055 294883 or through the museum’s official website.