Hotels near Gallerie dell'Accademia

The Gallerie dell'Accademia holds the world's finest collection of pre-19th-century Venetian painting - 800 works housed in three former religious buildings on the south bank of the Grand Canal. The collection follows the Venetian school from the 1300s Byzantine icons through Bellini, Carpaccio, Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, Tiepolo, and Canaletto. Highlights include Veronese's gigantic Feast in the House of Levi (commissioned as a Last Supper, then renamed after the Inquisition objected), Titian's Pieta (his last work, finished by Palma il Giovane after Titian died of plague in 1576), and Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man (only displayed in rotation due to its fragility).

Allow at least 2 hours. The galleries are spread across 24 rooms grouped chronologically and the building itself - a former church, monastery, and Scuola Grande della Carita - is part of the experience. Audioguides cost EUR 6 and are useful given that few labels are translated to English. The Accademia is also one of the few major Venice attractions that is genuinely well lit and air-conditioned in summer.

Pro Tip: Skip the morning rush and arrive at 4 pm - the museum closes at 7:15 pm and the last 90 minutes are the quietest of the day, with proper time in front of the Veronese.