Michelangelo's David

Probably the world's most iconic sculpture, this Renaissance masterpiece took Michelangelo two years to complete.

TravelCurious Tip

Don’t miss Michaelangelo’s other works in the Accademia, including the unfinished Prisoners and a statue of St Matthew

“No other artwork is equal to it in any respect, with such just proportion, beauty and excellence did Michelagnolo finish it.” So wrote Giorgio Vasari, a great artist and author in his own right — it is high praise indeed. Housed in the Galleria dell’Accademia, Michaelangelo’s David is perhaps the most famous sculpture in the world; no trip to Florence would be complete without seeing it.


The large statue was commissioned by the Opera del Duomo many years earlier but two other sculptors, Agostino di Duccio and Antonio Rossellino, rejected the huge block of marble they were offered because it contained too many taroli — imperfections that can undermine the stability of such a huge sculpture. By contrast Michaelangelo, still only 26 years old in 1501, relished the challenge.


Two years of solid work produced his greatest masterpiece. Standing at 14 ft tall, David depicts the eponymous biblical hero, renowned for standing up to the colossal Goliath with only his sling, stones, and faith.


The city council were stunned by its beauty and assembled a committee of thirty, including artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli, to choose an appropriate stage for David. They settled on the Piazza della Signoria, in the political heart of Florence. A replica remains there even now, while the original stands tallest among a wealth of treasures in the Accademia.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Florence
Santa Maria del Fiore
This stunning cathedral took nearly 150 years to complete, and Brunelleschi's dome is today the most iconic feature of the Florentine skyline.
The Baptistery of St John
Among the city’s oldest buildings (and certainly its most octagonal), the Baptistery is a superb example of Florentine Romanesque style.
Florentine Leather Market
Plunge into the Italian market scene by visiting Florence's most famous outdoor.
Piazza del Duomo
Florence's 'Cathedral Square' is in the historic heart of the city and home to several of its most famous landmarks.
Galleria dell'Accademia
Established as Europe's very first Art Academy in 1563, this gallery's most famous resident is Michelangelo’s David - but there's plenty more to see here.
Jewelers
Unique and unrepeatable creations made entirely by hand according to the Florentine goldsmith's tradition.

Related Tours

Explore Florence Highlights including the 'David': Private Tour

Discover the highlights of Florence and follow an expert and entertaining tour guide to the most significant places through the historical centre and learn about the amazing history of the city from the time it was the capital of the Renaissance to the time it became the capital of early unified Italy.

On your private half-day tour, you will:


  • Begin your tour at Galleria dell'Accademia (Accademia Gallery), the home to the largest collection of Michelangelo's sculptures;
  • Admire "The David" and marvel at the elegance and details of this 5.17-metre (17 ft 0 in) marble sculpture;
  • Learn why Michelangelo is considered a genius and see traces of his sculptural technique in the chisel marks of the unfinished sculptures of the "Slaves";
  • Enjoy a walking tour of Florence's highlights, including the magnificent Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) and the famed baptistry with its gilded 'Gates of Paradise' doors;
  • Learn about Italian leatherwork, and discover the best places to shop in the city;
  • Explore the historical political heart of Florence with the medieval castle-like Palazzo Vecchio and the elegant Renaissance Uffizi Gallery buildings;
  • Admire the beautiful sculptures in the Loggia dei Lanzi outdoor Sculpture gallery, including Cennini's Perseus holding the head of Medusa;
  • Enjoy a refreshing Gelato break at your guide's favourite gelateria;
  • End your tour on the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's most famous and ancient bridge over the Arno river.


Your tour begins in the prestigious Accademia Gallery, where you will enjoy timed entrance tickets to the museum, and explore stunning artwork, including Michelangelo's David.

Then 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.

This half-day tour of Florence's Renaissance artwork and architecture is a must for all visitors.


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.
Uffizi Gallery & Accademia: Private Full-Day Walking Tour
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: 

  • Walk across the iconic Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence; 
  • Get a crash course in Italian History of Art as you explore the Uffizi Gallery,  home to many of Italy's most famous works of Art  brilliantly organised in chronological order;
  • Learn about Renaissance Masters like Giotto and Leonardo da Vinci; 
  • Admire Boticelli's most recognisable works, such as the  'Birth of Venus' and "Primavera" (Spring);
  • See the famous Doni Tondo by Michelangelo and Bacchus by Caravaggio;
  • Break for lunch. Your guide will recommend the perfect spot for a bite to eat (not included in the price).
  • Enjoy a walking tour of Florence's most popular highlights, including Piazza della SignoriaPalazzo Vecchio, the Logga dei LanziPiazza Della Repubblica, and of course the famed Duomo and its Baptistry;
  • Visit the Galleria dell'Accademia to admire Michelangelo's sculpture of David, and the "slaves";
  • End your tour inside the Accademia Gallery, where you are free to continue exploring at your own leisure;

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 own 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.
Welcome to Florence: Private 2.5-hour Highlights Walking Tour
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:

  • Start your tour at Piazza San Lorenzo, the perfect location to find famous Florentine handmade leather goods;
  • Learn about Italian leatherwork, and discover the best places to shop in the city;
  • Admire the stunning and exquisite architecture of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore known as the Duomo, 
  • Marvel at the  intricate details of the beautiful bronze doors of the Baptistry;
  • Walk by Piazza della Repubblica
  • Take a stroll down the famous Piazza della Signoria, home to the imposing Palazzo Vecchio and the impressive Neptune Fountain;
  • Walk by the Uffizi Gallery, and appreciate the magnificent architecture of the exteriors of the building;
  • Snap the perfect photo by the Arno River of the Ponte Vecchio, one of the most photographed sites in Florence;
  • Finish your tour with a classic Italian gelato on us. 

Discover the most popular highlights in the historic centre of the city of Florence with your expert guide and learn about the amazing history of the city from the time it was the capital of the Renaissance to the time 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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