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Tips for Visiting David Statue and the Accademia Gallery Florence

We only had a day and a half in Florence, Italy during our Fall visit but at the top of our list was seeing quite possibly the world’s most famous statue, Michelangelo’s David. David is everywhere in Florence from his face on souvenirs to namesake restaurants and hotels. Did the statue live up to the hype? Come along with us and learn all about this sculpture and see what other works of art surround it at the Accademia Gallery.

David Statue

We got here a few minutes after they opened to avoid the crowds. Granted it was a weekday in late November but being an early bird paid off when there were only a couple of people in front of us in line to buy tickets.

This was our first glimpse of David as we rounded the corner. He was located at the long end of the gallery underneath a round skylight further illuminating his presence. It really was an indescribable feeling seeing this magnificent statue in person. Our first impressions and words that came out of our mouths were “He’s huge!”

David Accademia Florence

This Renaissance sculpture stood at over 14 ft (4.3 m) or 17 ft (5.17 m) with his carved rock pedestal. It was completely made of solid white marble. He really was “larger than life” and he captivated us. We walked around a few times just to marvel at this impressive masterpiece. Of course, we took pictures from all angles.

Michelangelo was only 26 years old when he was commissioned by the Cathedral Works Committee to sculpt a large scale statue of David, the Biblical hero, in 1501. They gave him a leftover and neglected single marble block from the Carrara mountain quarries in Tuscany, Italy.

The area produced one of the world’s whitest marbles. David was supposed to be one of the large statues to go 262 ft (80 m) up on the Florence Duomo’s cupola outside.

David Statue Florence

Michelangelo worked on it for almost three years in secret and completed it in 1504. It was presented as the “Giant” and the committee agreed it was too magnificent to put high up in the Cathedral and almost hidden from the public. The statue was eventually put in the city’s main square – Piazza della Signoria.

Forty men moved the statue using a large wooden cart. It took over four days from Michelangelo’s workshop to the piazza half a mile away. It was later moved to its permanent location here at the Accademia Gallery in 1873 to protect it from weather elements and vandals.

The statue became Florence’s symbol for independence, courage and strength, which were major characteristics they wanted to embody. During the early 1500s, the city was at odds with the Medicis, who were once Florence’s ruling family and considered as tyrants.

David Up Close

Many traditional portrayals of David had been after he defeated the giant, Goliath, with his sling and stones and triumphantly standing with Goliath’s cut off head. Michelangelo decided to portray David before his epic battle – tense but ready. He was the first artist to show David this way and it was widely received well.

Since he was initially meant to be displayed up high in the cathedral and seen from below, Michelangelo purposely scaled some body parts to not be proportional. It’s not as obvious in pictures. The head, arms and his right hand were much larger and were emphasized since these were supposed to be seen from far away.

Florence David statue

His slingshot almost blended in with his skin. Michelangelo covered the sling and tree trunk stump next to his feet with gold leaf after he was done. Unfortunately, the gilded parts were washed away and disappeared after being on display outdoors all those years at the piazza.

We stared in amazement at those throbbing veins at the back of his hand clutching that stone. It looked so real! Michelangelo clearly loved human anatomy and studied it well with all the extraordinary details he included like how the muscles are shaped based on his stance.

David Statue hand veins

Here’s a closer look at his head, the details of his eyes and furrowed brow. It was remarkable how David displayed such a determined and confident look here.

Florence David head

I don’t usually pay attention to statue’s feet but I had to marvel at this one too. This statue was so life like even though he was so huge.

Florence David feet

Other Attractions at the Accademia Gallery

Sure, David gets all the attention here. But, there are also other beautiful art pieces worth checking out at the Accademia. It’s also a great way to get away from the crowds.

Michelangelo’s four unfinished sculpture pieces of male nudes called “The Prisoners” or Slaves/Captives flanked the gallery’s Hall of Prisoners on the way to the David Tribune.

The big slabs of marble had sculptures looking like they were trying to break free from the mold. It was supposed to depict the souls trying to escape from their flesh.

Florence Michelangelo Prisoners Slaves

They were initially commissioned as part of Pope Julius II della Rovere’s lavish tomb inside St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. But, the pope told Michelangelo to stop work on it due to lack of funds. One can only imagine what Michelangelo would have done with these pieces.

Michelangelo said it best to describe his view on sculpting.

“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”

Don’t miss the Gipsoteca Bartolini (Hall of Models) room a few steps from David that contained a collection of many 19th century plaster cast models by local sculptor Lorenzo Bartolini. This was a reproduction of Bartolini’s art studio.

We enjoyed watching the video showing how these plaster casts were made. Sculptors used these models before carving the sculptures in marble blocks.

Florence Accademia with Kids

The plaster cast and marble statue of Nymph of the Arno was displayed side by side here. This was one of Bartolini’s first full-length sculpture.

Florence Nymph of the Arno

The Hall of Colossus was by the gallery entrance and showcased The Rape of the Sabine Women plaster model by Giambologna. The intertwined three figures were eventually carved using a single marble block using this model. We saw the actual marble sculpture, considered Giambologna’s masterpiece, at the Piazza della Signoria.

Rape of the Sabines Florence

My other favorite area here was the Florentine Gothic paintings gallery that occupied three rooms. There were beautiful and colorful gold altarpieces and crosses displayed here. Many of the pieces came from some churches and convents.

Visiting with Kids

Museums can be a hit or a miss with children. My kids knew the story of David and Goliath and we showed them pictures of the sculpture before visiting here. The sheer size of David really magnifies every body part.

I’m not sure about other kids but mine snicker at nude sculptures every time they see one. So, imagine the giggles and comments here. Thankfully, they got past that quickly. David mesmerized them and they spent some time walking around admiring the details and took pictures with our phones.

There are seats behind David to admire the statue. Bring some art paper and ask them to draw their David interpretation. Younger kids may not get the concept of this statue’s significance so maybe a coloring David sheet may work too.

Florence David from back

It was incredible to think that the awe-inspiring masterpiece of David came out of a leftover marble block. He was extraordinary and shouldn’t be missed when visiting Florence no matter how short of a time you may have. Take some time to see the other works of art around the Accademia too. The museum was small but definitely worth the admission price and time.

Florence David with tourists

Visiting Florence’s Accademia Tips and Basics

  • The Accademia is notorious for having very long lines especially during holidays and the summer. Tickets can be bought in advance at this site (may cost extra) or book a private tour to bypass the lines.We got lucky since we were here during low season but we also came very early.
  • Free admission to children under 18 years old.
  • Hours: The Accademia is closed on Mondays. It is open Tuesday – Sunday from 8:15 AM – 6:50 PM. Entry is available until 45 minutes before closing time.
  • Come very early or later in the afternoon to beat the crowds. It makes a huge difference trying to see David past the crowds and trying to take a picture without other people around.
  • Buy the Firenze Card if you’re going to be in Florence for at least 3 days. You have free admission to many museums and attractions for a 72-hour period and get to bypass lines including here.
  • There were airport security type screenings before entering the galleries including passing through a metal detector and screening bags through a conveyor.
  • Audio Guides are available at the ticket office and start at 6 Euros.
  • There are copies of the David statue around Florence. One is at Piazza della Signoria where the original once stood for years. The other is at Piazzale Michelangelo but is made of bronze.

*Have you visited David in Florence?

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Michelangelo David Florence

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39 thoughts on “Tips for Visiting David Statue and the Accademia Gallery Florence”

  1. I have never been to Florence so I’ve not seen The David so I loved seeing your photos. He sure is huge! And the detail – wow!

      1. I visited DAVID in 20 14 . I just missed being able to take pictures. They took everyon’s cameras & phones before going in. I’m hoping to go again & take a lot of pictires with me in them. Did U notice his toes were cracked, & was there a butterfly carved in his butt? I remember seeing them.

  2. I saw Michelangelo’s David back in 2000, and it was such an impressive thing to a teenager. This post brings me back to those days, and I love the idea of bringing kids with sketch pads to learn about the beautiful anatomy of the sculpture! I didn’t realize the proportions were off and the gold leaf had been imprinted. Very cool.

    1. It certainly was very cool. I’m glad you got to see David in person too, Tara. I hope my kids will still remember being impressed with seeing David too.

  3. Stunning Mary! I marvel at the 3 year completion time. I think the 5 hours I put into a blog post is tough lol….6,000 words and I feel spent. And this guy put 3 years of his life into this work of art. That’s usually what it takes to become legend, and he is one of the all time legends in the human race; Michaelangelo and David both of course lol. Thanks!

    Ryan

  4. Did you know that Michelangelo carved tiny hearts in his eyes? I loved this statue as well. And we were so lucky to be able to take pictures – I know it wasn’t always allowed.

  5. Wonderful description of the Accademia Gallery and especially of the David scupture. I love the details of the veins, the muscles and the way you’ve almost managed to establish eye contact with this representation of the biblical hero.

    1. Thanks Malinda! I’m glad you got to see David. He was also one of our highlights in Florence. We were allowed to take as many photos as we want as long as there was no flash. There were many tourists around David taking selfies and many pictures with security guards around and no one stopped us. There were also guards around the other exhibits who saw us taking pictures and we had our cameras around our necks. We were there the last week November so I’m not sure if they’re a little more lax during that time.

  6. eileen @ FamiliesGo!

    It’s hard to believe that one statue can really be that amazing, but I had the same reaction to David. There really is something compelling about it. I didn’t do as much reading about his as you did, though. thanks for the insight!

  7. It really helps when kids know the story behind the sculpture. when we visited, my son was into the ancient Rome and knew all the mythology so he was able to enjoy our visit! as always, Mary, great details in your posts.

  8. This is such a masterpiece. You are so wise to think about how to make your kids interested in what they’re seeing. When you’re travelling with family, museums can be hit or miss. When my girls were young, I always worked hard at finding something to interest them.
    (And I’m sure my kids would have giggled too!)

  9. Oh, that looks fantastic! Thank you for all the photos, especially the photo of the hand and feet! I do hope I’ll get to see Florence and David when we visit in a few years (I hope), but in the meantime, it’s great to be able to read about this amazing masterpiece in your post.

  10. We just didn’t have enough time, rather than rushing through both museums, we opted for the Uffizi, either is a good choice. I saw David on my first visit to Europe a long time ago, and “big” was what struck me also. This is a fantastic post, interesting and great photos. Thanks for linking up at Weekend Travel Inspiration.

  11. I’ve been to Florence twice, but I can’t remember if I’ve seen the original David. I know I’ve seen a few of the replicas around Florence, but I don’t think that they are the same size. I’m amazed by all the details you pointed out, like the veins in his arms. It’s truly impressive. And yes, my kids would have also snickered at him being “nekkid.” There were plenty of nude statues in Rome, and I noticed that my boys paid particular attention to the ladies. Oh well, I guess that’s to be expected.

  12. Like Michelle, I’ve been to Florence, too (spent like 3 days there) but I never got around to seeing the original. There was one replica of him I saw outside of a museum but that was it. Too bad, the original looks so lifelike. Look at those veins in his hand!

  13. What great photos! when I was there, there were so so so so many people and I could not get a clear shot. I think my entry time was too popular. All praise , Michelangelo such a talented man!

  14. Perfect timing Mary! I’ve seen David once before a few years ago in Florence but I’m just about to return this summer and am going to the Academia. Last time I went, I definitely had not read up much about the history of the statue so this post is a great little summary! I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for the head, arms and right hand, as I don’t think I noticed the disproportionate parts before :)

  15. I “met” David” back in 1995, also in November :) It was love at firs sight! You mentioned a couple of time how life like he is, and that is what blew me away. It’s like somewhere in that statue lives a real person. He was just sculpted so beautifully. Thanks for the walk down memory lane!

  16. It’s such an amazing gallery- I visited when I was 17 and travelling in Italy, but I’d love to go back again now. Did you ever see the David copy up on the hill overlooking the city? It’s so beautiful at sunset!

  17. Florence! Ahhh… so beautiful. And so much great art..architecture, paintings, sculpture…it’s a renaissance overload. My favourite scuplture is in the Palazzo Vecchio – Hercules and Diomedes by Vincenzo de’ Rossi. I’m not sure the wrestling hold displayed would be approved by world wrestling authorities today!

  18. What a spectacularly chiseled beauty! I love the detailing on the human anatomy – it shows the passion involved. Oh, how I wish to visit Florence someday – till then, loved my armchair tour as always, Mary!

  19. I was in Florence for all of 18 hours but I definitely made sure I saw David. When I visited we weren’t allowed to take photos. I guess they’ve relaxed those rules now! I love your close up shots – it’s incredible the amount of detailing went into the statue. Definitely a masterpiece.

  20. I saw David forty years ago and was astounded by his beauty. I am not an overtly artistic person but I feel like I hold David in my mind. Whenever I wish to I can conjure him up to marvel at. Even I am amazed that he has had such a lasting effect on me and if I ever return to Florence he will be the first thing to see on my itinerary. Thanks for the in depth description and lovely photos of him.

  21. Hi Mary, I love your detailed presentation of David both in photos and narrative. It reminded me what an exqusite piece of art he really was and I felt I just revisited him, minus the crowd:) When I started reading your post I was wondering if it illicited some giggled reaction from the kids. Well, it’s good to know that they were just like most kids.

  22. Even though I am Italian, I’ve only seen David for the first time two years ago and just like you, I was amazed. I love how you highlighted the details like the veins on the hands. Truly a work of art!

  23. I was there in August. I couldn’t believe I took so many pictures of a naked guy. An alternative theory on the relatively large head and right hand is that David was carved during the Age of Reason, and Michelangelo was artistically stating the most powerful tools of the ‘New Man’ are his mind and the instrument (right hand) that carries out its works. Even amongst literate people of that day like Michelangelo, left handedness was still considered sinister, hence the emphasis on the right.

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