The Galleria dell’Accademia stands on the site where two ancient convents were once located – the male convent of San Matteo and the female convent of San Niccolò di Cafaggio – which occupied the entire block between Piazza Santissima Annunziata and Via Ricasoli. The large space has the appearance of a Latin cross church.
The side arms and the Hall of the Prisoners occupy spaces of the medieval Hospital of San Matteo, while the Tribune, which houses the statue of David, was specially built according to the design of architect Emilio De Fabris between 1873 and 1882.