Venice’s Accademia Gallery gathers sumptuous masterpieces by Venetian artists like Titian, Giambattista Tiepolo, Canaletto, Mantegna, Hieronymus Bosch, Giovanni Bellini, and Paolo Veronese. Housed in the Scuola della Carita, part of the former Santa Maria della Carità convent complex, the museum first opened in the early 19th century. Today it is home to both a permanent collection and rotating temporary exhibitions. To fully understand the scope and importance of the artwork on display, by far the best way to visit is with a guided tour that includes skip-the-line access to the popular museum.
The Accademia Gallery is a must-see for art enthusiasts.
Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man is on display only periodically due to its fragile nature.
The Accademia Gallery is accessible to wheelchair users.
Venice's Accademia Gallery is located on Campo della Carità in the Dorsoduro district right on the Grand Canal. Take vaporetto line 1 or 2 to the Accademia stop from either St. Mark’s Square or the train station.
Venice is one of the most popular destinations in Italy, and the best time to visit its sights is October to March, when the city is less crowded. That said, the Accademia Gallery is the perfect respite from the muggy heat in summer, cold lagoon winds in winter, and sudden rainstorms in spring and fall. The museum is closed on Monday afternoons, May 1, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
The Scuola della Carità was the oldest Scuola Grande in Venice, dating from the 13th century. The city originally had six of these important charitable and religious confraternities, which were Napoleon disbanded during his 18th-century occupation.
