There is a replica of Michaelangelo’s ‘David’ just by the Loggia dei Lanzi, but to see the real thing you need to visit the Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze
Set just off the piazza della Signoria, the Loggia dei Lanzi is an outdoor museum that holds some of Florence’s most treasured sculptures and fountains. It owes its name to the Lanzichenecchi bodyguards of Cosimo I who were often stationed here to keep the peace. This Swiss mercenary corps subsequently became notorious for sacking Rome in 1527, but the Loggia kept its name.
Designed by Simone Talenti in the 1300s, the Loggia is of the late Gothic style. However, its use of round arches also makes it one of the first examples of Renaissance architecture in Florence. At the time of building the terrace above it was intended as a place for people to watch ceremonies in the piazza below. Now it is part of the Uffizi Gallery, but it remains a great spot for watching the crowds below.
Head to Head
The Loggia first became an outdoor museum when the Florentines expelled the Medici in 1494, after 150 years of their rule. To celebrate the revolt, citizens transported Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes to the Loggia from the Medici’s palace. It depicts a woman decapitating a tyrant — the symbolism is clear.
The Medici’s inevitably regained power and Cosimo I commisioned Benvenuto Cellini to make a sculpture of Perseus holding the severed head of Medusa. In 1554 this statue was placed in the Loggia as a warning to Cosimo’s enemies.
Pantheon
Today, many other statues stand alongside Perseus. Don’t miss Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabine Women, Agnolo Gaddi’s Seven Virtues, or the restored Roman statue depicting Menelaus and Patroclus from Greek mythology.
Explore the best of Florence, the beautiful capital city of Tuscany on this full-day private tour with an expert guide. The birthplace of Dante and Michelangelo and ruled by the infamous Medici family, Florence is often called the Cradle of the Renaissance and is an open-air museum of beautiful Renaissance architecture, statues and monuments, cobbled streets, hidden gems down little-known side streets, world-famous galleries, sunny piazzas, gorgeous old bridges, and wonderful vistas.
On your private tour, you will:
Florence sits serenely on the Arno River in the heart of Tuscany and is known for its Renaissance beauty everywhere you look.
On your private tour of this Renaissance city, home to some of the greatest names of all time from Michelangelo to the Medici, you’ll explore all the most notable highlights, including the Duomo, with Brunelleschi’s Dome, which took 140 years to complete, and the Baptistry of St John, built over 70 years and named after the Saint Protector of Florence- San Giovanni.
You’ll hear all about the lives, accomplishments, and scandals of the families and artists that made Florence, as you wander the quaint cobbled streets, gazing at magnificent buildings, glorious piazzas and spectacular statues.
Admire views of the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno, and hear about life in modern Florence as you walk through the vibrant markets that have been going since medieval times, and end with an orientation around the trendy Oltrarno area, filled with artisanal shops and lively bars. Enjoy a delicious gelato with your guide who will be happy to help you with dinner/shopping/sightseeing recommendations.
Please note that there is often a long line to enter the Duomo of Florence. If the line is too long you will not visit the interior of the Cathedral on tour, and your guide will give you tips on the best time to return to avoid standing in line.
Explore the best of Renaissance in Florence on this full-day tour including a guided visit to the Uffizi Gallery and to the Accademia Gallery where you will admire the world-famous "David" by Michelangelo.
On your private tour, you will:
Located in the very heart of Tuscany, in a basin crossed by the Arno River, the magnificent city of Florence stands as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, filled with historical relics and artistic masterpieces by the greatest masters of Humanism and the Renaissance. You can read it in Dante, see it in Michelangelo, or just be engulfed by it when you walk into a church.
Begin your day in the impressive Uffizi Gallery, one of the largest museums in the Western world, holding over 3,000 works of notable artists. The Museum complex is deeply bound to the history of the city and the House of Medici and echoes the splendour of a whole era. Masterpieces by Giotto, Masaccio, Piero della Francesca and Botticelli are waiting for you, along with the most recent Caravaggio, Tiziano and Tintoretto and the stunning Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation and Adoration of the Magi.
After, the walking portion of your tour highlights key Renaissance sites and masterpieces, including the chance to see the Duomo Duomo and its impressive dome designed by Brunelleschi, and the Baptistery of Saint John, one of the oldest buildings in Florence.
You will also visit the political centre, and enjoy a pleasant stroll through Piazza Della Signoria, surrounded by its ancient buildings and the Loggia Dei Lanzi.
In the afternoon, your guide will take you to the prestigious Accademia Gallery, where you will enjoy skip-the-line tickets to the museum, and explore stunning artwork, including Michelangelo's David. After an hour, your guide will leave you to explore the gallery at your leisure.
Please note that there is often a long line to enter into the Duomo of Florence. If the line is too long you will not visit the interior of the Cathedral on tour, and your guide will give you tips on the best time to return to avoid standing in line.Explore Florence with a private guide, one of the most iconic and beautiful cities in Italy and discover the city's rich history, art, and culture on this introductory tour perfect tour for anyone arriving in Florence for the first time.
On your private 2.5-hour tour, you will:
Discover the most popular highlights in the historic centre of Florence with your expert guide and learn about its amazing history from when it was the capital of the Renaissance to when it became the capital of early unified Italy.
First, you will see the religious centre of the city: admire the Duomo, whose impressive Dome was designed by Brunelleschi, and the Baptistery of Saint John, one of the oldest buildings in Florence.
From the religious centre, you will walk to the political centre, and enjoy a pleasant stroll through Piazza Della Signoria, surrounded by its ancient buildings and the Loggia Dei Lanzi. In this open-air museum, we will see original masterpieces by Giambologna and Cellini.
From there, you'll cross the famous Ponte Vecchio, the medieval bridge on the Arno River. Your tour finishes with a delicious gelato (on us!) before your guide leaves you with recommendations for how to spend the remainder of your day. Please note that there is often a long line to enter into the Duomo of Florence. If the line is too long you will not visit the interior of the Cathedral on tour, and your guide will give you tips on the best time to return to avoid standing in line.
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