Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze reopens its 13th- and 14th-century rooms after renovation

On January 25, 2022, the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence reopened its ground-floor rooms dedicated to the Duecento and Trecento (13th and 14th centuries) following a structural renovation. The project, overseen by architect Claudia Gerola and restorer Eleonora Pucci, is part of a broader museum-wide upgrade that previously saw the gallery itself reopen in May 2021. The newly refurbished spaces feature a state-of-the-art climate control system and LED lighting sponsored by Enel, designed to enhance the artworks while improving energy efficiency. The lighting fixtures are angled at 30 degrees to minimize visitor shadows on the walls. Walls have been repainted in a green hue inspired by Giotto's fresco fragment depicting a shepherd's head. The central room is now dedicated to Pacino di Buonaguida, a painter and miniaturist active between the late 13th and early 14th centuries. On display are his famous "Albero della Vita" (Tree of Life), recently returned from a loan to the Museo del Bargello, along with three other works depicting Saints Proculus, John the Evangelist, and Nicholas—originally side panels of a dismembered polyptych from the Florentine church of San Procolo. Other artists represented include the Maestro della Maddalena, Maestro della Santa Cecilia, Taddeo Gaddi, Bernardo Daddi, and Andrea di Cione (Orcagna). Museum director Cecilie Hollberg stated that the renovations mark another step in modernizing the gallery and promised visitors a surprise.