The Gallerie dell’Accademia at the foot of the famous Accademia Bridge host a vast collection of Venitian paintings from the 14th to the 18th century.
The museum complex had been built on the 14th century site of the church and convent (become later on Scuola Grande) of Santa Maria della Carita. In the course of time, buildings have been largely transformed in various occasions to adapt to the various required purposes. The last architectural refurbishment, begun in 2005, has been designed by architect Tobia Scarpa whose father Carlo had already planned a partial restoration in the 1940s. The project has brought out the opening of a new museum wing on the ground floor after the school Accademia delle Belle Arti had been transferred to another venue. Substantial and functional restoration works have been undergone including the installation of new technological facilities and the introduction of a new staircase. Several years have been required because the consolidation of walls and foundations ahs also proved to be necessary. The project has doubled the space available for exhibitions with a total surface of 12000 square metres dedicated to this activity compared to the original 6000 square metres.