Michelangelo's colossal statue of David is one of the most famous artworks in the world. Discover with us the history of a masterpiece.
The marble statue of David stands in the Galleria dell'Accademia, it still astonishes its visitors for its perfection and imprssive beauty. When it was unveiled, On September 8th, 1504 it was immediately hailed as a masterpiece and established Michelangelo's reputation. In the Accademia Gallery you can discover the history of Michelangelo's David but you can also enjoy, as a majestic prelude to the contemplation of the masterpiece, the four "Prisoners" that the master started to sculpt in Rome for the tomb of Pope Julius II but left unfinished, along with the also incomplete statue of Saint Mathew. The tour continues by walking to the Duomo Square, it was actually the Vestry Board of Florence Cathedral that assigned Michelangelo the task of carving a "Giant" from a large block of marble to be located on a buttress in the apsidal section of the church. The visits ends in Piazza della Signoria, the political centre of Florence, an open air museum of sculptures. When the sculpture was completed, in 1504, a commission made up of artists, was invited to decide the best location for David. Among the members of the committe were artists like Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Andrea della Robbia and Cosimo Rosselli. It was decided to display the statue in front of the entrance of Palazzo Della Signoria, where now stands a replica. Duration: 2,5 hours approx Price: € 160 (from 1 to 10 people - Entrance tickets not included) In addiction, as an option, we suggest the visit of the Bargello Museum. The image of David conquering Goliath became very popular in the 15th century Florence and in this museum you can see three of them, Michelangelo was familiar with, two by Donatello and one by Andrea del Verrocchio. The Bargello Museums, the first national museum of Florence also houses sculptures by young Michelangelo, such as the "Bacchus", other masterpieces by Donatello, works by Giambologna, Benvenuto Cellini and Ammannati. Duration: 1 hour approx Price: 50€ (from 1 to 10 people - entrance ticket not included)