Italy is marking the 550th anniversary of the High Renaissance genius Michelangelo with a series of special events and cultural initiatives, centred mainly in Florence. The celebrations begin on Thursday, 550 years after the birth of Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni in the village of Caprese Michelangelo, located about 100 km east of the Tuscan capital.

Florence will host "the most important museum on Michelangelo in the world" thanks to collaboration between the Galleria dell’Accademia and the Bargello Museums, the director general for Italy's state museums Massimo Osanna said on Monday.