Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September 2025 sees the return of the European Heritage Days (EHD), the largest cultural event on the continent, coordinated in Italy by the Ministry of Culture. The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze is participating in the initiative by offering themed guided tours and a brochure inspired by this year’s theme, Architectural Heritage. On Saturday, September 27, the Florentine museum will also be open exceptionally until 10:00 p.m. (last entrance at 9:15 p.m.), with admission at the symbolic price of €1 (except for those entitled to free admission) starting at 7:00 p.m.

The European Heritage Days were established in 1991 on the initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission and now involve the 49 Member States of the European Cultural Convention. Architectural Heritage is the theme chosen for this edition, conceived to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the European Architectural Heritage Year and to reflect on architectural heritage as a bridge between the past and the future.

The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze is participating in the European Heritage Days 2025, as a special opportunity to rediscover the value of national cultural heritage, involving visitors in an experience of art, architecture, and history in one of the most iconic places of Italian culture.

During the event, the museum will offer free guided tours in Italian and English, following a thematic itinerary that explores the various ways in which architecture is present in the works of art and in the physical space of the Galleria. The thematic tours, led by museum staff, will be held only on Saturday, September 27, every 30 minutes from 8:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. and from 2:20 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. No reservation is required; simply go to the meeting point in the Sala del Colosso.

Throughout the event, an in-depth brochure will also be available in three languages — Italian, English, and Spanish — allowing the public to independently explore the connections between architecture, art, and history within the museum’s rooms.

Download the information leaflet

The tour is divided into three thematic strands: the first explores the ‘real’ architecture of the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, recounting its transformations over time, from the foundation of the Academy of Fine Arts in 1784, commissioned by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena, to the 19th-century interventions. In particular, it analyzes the significant changes that took place after the unification of Italy, when the Gallery was profoundly modified to house Michelangelo’s David, with the inauguration in 1882 of the spectacular Tribuna, designed by architect Emilio De Fabris to enhance the work.

The second theme concerns “painted architecture” in medieval and Renaissance works. In these works, architecture is never just a backdrop, but often takes on a symbolic role linked to civic, religious, or spiritual values. In particular, we will examine the scenes of the Annunciation by Neri di Bicci and Alessandro Allori: the depictions of domestic environments will offer an opportunity to reflect on how built space becomes a bridge between the divine and the everyday.

The tour will conclude with an exploration of medieval polyptychs, true examples of “miniature architecture.” These masterpieces combine painting and carpentry, creating architectural microcosms in which each element plays a specific role in the narrative. Among the most significant examples are the monumental Cavalcanti polyptych by Giovanni del Biondo and the Coronation of the Virgin, Angels and Saints by Spinello Aretino, Lorenzo di Niccolò, and Niccolò di Pietro Gerini.

On Saturday, September 27, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the reservation service will not be available: simply go to the entrance door and wait your turn in line. Reservations remain active and are strongly recommended for all other days from Tuesday to Sunday (at a cost of €4), including September 27 for the time slots from 8:15 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. (last admission at 6:20 p.m.). The service is available via a dedicated call center at +39 055 294883 or online on the Museum’s official website at the following link: https://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/en/visit/#