Sept 15 - Florence

 Sept 15 - Florence 

Off to another museum this morning, this time the Galleria dell'Accademia.  Europe's first school of drawing, this museum of art is mainly known for its sculpture of David, by Michelangelo, as well as its extensive collection of 15th and 16th century religious artwork.  

‘David’ is obviously the standout in this museum and so, when looking at it closely, the veins, the arteries, the muscle detail, it’s easy to see see why this is one of the world’s most significant and recognised artworks, it’s magnificent.

 Moving on, our next stop of the day was to the Medici chapels.  Divided into two parts, the ‘Chapel of the Princes’ and the ‘New Sacristy’ this is the final resting place of eight of the Medici dynasty.  


The octagonal domed ‘Chapel of the Princes’, and home to six grand funeral monuments, is enormous, totally covered with different coloured marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, and is so over-the-top but is absolutely spectacular!. 

The ‘New Sacristy’, home to the tombs of two of the lesser known Medici, is on a much smaller scale than the chapel.  Designed by Michelangelo the two monuments are surrounded by his four sculptures ‘Night’ and ‘Day’, and ‘Dusk’ and ‘Dawn’.  Fantastic as these tombs are, the whole chapel with regard to its size, colour, and opulence, just pales into insignificance when compared with its neighbour. 



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