David - An Unforgettable Encounter with Michelangelo
Duration: 1 hour
On foot
Accessible to people with disabilities
Tickets are extra, we will buy them and they are NO REFUNDABLE.
What's included in the tour:
Private tour guide
Priority access to the museum
Headphones for parties of more than 6 people
Customized itinerary
Full assistance during the tour
Interactive experience
Discover the Academy Gallery with Guided Florence Tours
Imagine standing before a block of marble that seems to breathe.
The figures sculpted by Michelangelo are not mere statues: they are souls imprisoned in stone, telling stories of struggle and liberation, perfection and torment.
This tour will allow you to see Michelangelo’s works with fresh eyes, uncovering the hidden secrets in the details and forms sculpted by the artist.
What to expect
Beyond the famous David, the symbol of Florence and an absolute masterpiece of sculpture, you will have the opportunity to admire other extraordinary works by Michelangelo housed in the
Academy Gallery. Among them, the evocative Pietà of Palestrina, Saint Matthew, and above all, the powerful Prisoners or Slaves, commissioned by Pope Julius II for his funeral monument. Michelangelo worked on these figures for nearly forty years, but as the project changed, the sculptures remained unfinished. Looking at them, they appear as living creatures trying to free themselves from the marble, bearing witness to the creative process of a genius.
Our expert guides will lead you through the museum, explaining how to observe a statue to fully grasp its meaning, beauty and technique. We will show you why David is considered the most extraordinary sculpture ever created and how Michelangelo managed to infuse a soul into stone.
The tour lasts approximately one hour and will take you on a journey through the most important sculptures in the Gallery, including the fascinating plaster model of Giambologna’s Rape of the
Sabine Women.
Thanks to advance reservations, you will skip the long lines and enjoy a stress-free experience. Our explanations are clear, engaging, and suitable for everyone, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the magic of art.
The History of the Academy Gallery
In 1784, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Pietro Leopoldo, decided to transform the former Academy of the Arts of Drawing, founded by Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1563, into the modern Academy of Fine Arts. To host students and provide them with a place of inspiration, he chose the former San Matteo Hospital and the convent of San Nicola di Cafaggio. The Academy Gallery, as we know it today, was established in 1882 when architect Emilio De Fabris completed the Tribuna, a structure resembling a church that now houses David.
The construction of the Tribuna lasted nine years and David had to wait patiently, enclosed in a
wooden crate, before being placed in his new home.
The History of David
On August 16, 1501, at only 26 years old, Michelangelo was commissioned to sculpt a statue intended for one of the terraces of Florence’s Cathedral. In just two and a half years, the young artist created a timeless masterpiece. On January 25, 1504, a committee of great artists of the time, including Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, and Filippino Lippi, decided that the sculpture was too extraordinary to be placed high above, out of public view. Thus, David was positioned in front of Palazzo Vecchio, becoming the symbol of the city of Florence. On September 8, 1504, the statue was unveiled to the public, evoking admiration and wonder. Giorgio Vasari, the first art historian, wrote:
“… to tell the truth, this work eclipsed all other statues, modern and ancient … because
Michelangelo completed it with such measure, beauty, and skill. Anyone who sees this statue
needs no other sculpture, ancient or modern, created by any artist.”
David’s Dimensions:
- Height: 5.17 meters /17 feet (including the sculpted base)
• Weight: 5.5 tons /12.000 pounds
Photo Testimonials
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