• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
the tour guy travel blog

The Tour Guythe tour guy travel blog

Book tours, activities, and attractions with The Tour Guy

  • Destinations
    • Amalfi Coast & Pompeii
    • Amsterdam
    • Athens
    • Barcelona
    • Capri
    • Florence
    • Granada
    • Las Vegas
    • London
    • Madrid
    • Milan
    • New York City
    • Paris
    • Rome
    • San Francisco
    • Segovia
    • Tuscany
    • Vatican City
    • Venice
  • Attractions
    • 9/11 Memorial
    • Accademia Gallery
    • Acropolis
    • Alcázar of Segovia
    • Alhambra
    • Borghese Gallery
    • Colosseum
    • Doge’s Palace
    • Eiffel Tower
    • Louvre Museum
    • The Met
    • Montserrat Monastery
    • Pantheon
    • Paris Catacombs
    • Sagrada Familia
    • Sistine Chapel
    • St. Mark’s Basilica
    • St. Peter’s Basilica
    • Statue of Liberty
    • Stonehenge
    • The Last Supper
    • Tower of London
    • Uffizi Gallery
    • Vatican Museum
    • Versailles
    • Westminster Abbey
    • Windsor Castle
  • Shop Tours
  • Sign In
Home > travel-blog > Italy > Florence > Accademia & David > How To See the Statue of David in Florence in 2023

How To See the Statue of David in Florence in 2023

Sean Finelli Last Updated: November 3, 2022

The statue of David has been drawing people to Florence to witness all of its glory since it was created. Standing 17 feet tall, many are fascinated by this grand statue and its brilliant maker. Although there are three statue of Davids located throughout Florence, only one is legitimate. Michelangelo’s David stands proudly in the Galleria dell’Accademia and he’s waiting for you. Here’s how to see the David.


Pro Tip: Planning to see the David in the Accademia in Florence? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you need it. Check out our comprehensive Accademia Gallery guide for more planning resources, our best Accademia and David tours for a memorable trip, and how to see Florence in a day (with itinerary).

How To See the Statue of David in Florence

Michelangelo’s statue of David is housed in Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia or Accademia Gallery. In this article, we’ll cover the best ways to see the David including gallery hours and tickets, plus some interesting facts about the statue. For more in-depth information, see our guide on how to visit the Accademia Gallery, which includes details about the rest of the gallery’s collection.

  • Accademia Gallery hours
  • Statue of David Facts
  • Tickets

Accademia Gallery Hours

At 8:15 am, the Galleria dell’Accademia opens its doors to art lovers and tourists until closing time at 6:15 pm. If you’re thinking about touring the gallery but are looking for a cheaper price, think about touring on Sundays.

The gallery, along with other State Museums in Florence, is free on Sundays. And if you’re not a fan of lines, we recommend opting for our skip-the-line tour, which gives you access to the museum and the privilege of getting ahead of the queue. Just don’t make any plans to see the David on a Monday, as the gallery is closed that day every week.

Since you’re planning to see the David, the beautiful city of Florence must be on your travel itinerary. We have top-rated Florence tours, including small group and private Uffizi Gallery tours—Florence’s world-famous art museum, popular Florence walking tours with David, and a Florence food tour with a mouthwatering Florentine steak dinner and wine.

How to See FLORENCE IN A DAY

Statue of David Facts

Statue of David Florence

The statue of David is famous for a few reasons. Its creator, Michelangelo, was the only sculptor at the time willing to work with this particular type of marble. Out of undesirable marble came one of the most desirable and striking works of art known in history. 

Michelangelo’s David stands at 17 feet (about 5 meters) which, if you didn’t already know, is massive. Do you know what else is massive? His feet. The statue was actually sculpted to adorn the roof of Florence’s Cathedral dome.

With this in mind, Michelangelo made David’s feet a bit bigger to make the statue more sturdy. However, the David never set foot on top of the cathedral, and today, people question his unproportioned feet from the inside of the Gallery.

The Statue of David famously represents the biblical story of “David and Goliath.” The sculpture is supposed to depict David right before defeating Goliath, ready to take on the giant with his slingshot in hand.

There Are Three Davids in Florence

Piazza signoria david

You can visit any of the three Davids. One is in Piazza Della Signoria, the other is on top of Piazzale Michelangelo, and the original is in the Galleria dell’Accademia.

He Has an Infamous Right Hand

Aside from his disproportional feet, he has a very disproportional right hand as well. Some art historians believe that Michelangelo’s large hand was intended to symbolize David’s nickname, manu fortis or strong of hand. In his hand, you can see the stone he used to slingshot Goliath.

Relationship with the Medici Family

The Medici family commissioned many works of art from Michelangelo. Other than the Statue of David, the family also commissioned Moses and the Sistine Chapel.

Even an Earthquake Can’t Defeat Him

Throughout its years of existence, the David has suffered countless fractures and cracks in its shins and ankles. After one too many risky situations, the statue is currently placed on a semi-seismic platform, which protects the masterpiece from damage during any more earthquakes.

He’s Missing a Toe

Though both the statue and the gallery are under heavy surveillance and security now, it wasn’t always as strict. The gallery learned its lesson in 1991 when Pierro Canata, an Italian artist, snuck a hammer in and smashed off the David’s toe. Ouch!

Statue of David Tickets

While you do not need to go on a tour to view the statue of David, it certainly helps. With the Galleria dell’Accademia being a popular tourist attraction, lines can get long and rooms can get crowded.

The museum itself does not give nearly enough information about the artworks inside, so for those who want a more immersive tour, check out the Florence Walking Tour. Our guide will walk you through the museum showing you some highlights as well as hidden gems and, of course, our favorite guy: the David.

See the David in Accademia Gallery Tours

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Accademia and David Guide for more resources.

Find the best places to stay

Where To Stay in Florence

Florence has a small historical center packed with iconic landmarks to explore. Plan where to stay in the best neighborhoods in this beautiful city.

Best Places to Stay in Florence
  • How To See Michelangelo's David: Accademia Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More
    How To See Michelangelo’s David: Accademia Tickets, Hours,…
  • Is a Tour of Accademia To See David Worth It?
    Is a Tour of Accademia To See David Worth It?
  • Top Things to See at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty in 2023
    Top Things to See at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty…
  • How To Visit the Statue of Liberty in 2023: Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More
    How To Visit the Statue of Liberty in 2023: Tickets, Hours,…
  • The History of the Statue of Liberty
    The History of the Statue of Liberty
  • Top Things To See at the Accademia Gallery in Florence in 2023
    Top Things To See at the Accademia Gallery in Florence in…

About Sean Finelli

Sean is a co-founder and owner of The Tour Guy and its subsidiary The Roman Guy. He studied finance and statistics, but that is his "Dr. Jekyll" side! His "Mr. Hyde" is in love with travel, art, history, and culture. Sean has read libraries of historical text and believes that all internet content should come from books. A practice he follows!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

florence best view the tour guy

Want a great experience in Florence?

See our latest deals on Florence tours!

why the tour guy

Why The Tour Guy?

check mark

Top Rated Tour Company in Europe

check mark

Thousands of 5 star Customer Reviews

check mark

Providing Tours for 10+ Years

check mark

Best Access to the Monuments You Want to See

check mark

More Departure Times Each Day

See Florence Tours

Related Posts

  • How To See Michelangelo's David: Accademia Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More
    How To See Michelangelo's David: Accademia Tickets, Hours,…
  • Is a Tour of Accademia To See David Worth It?
    Is a Tour of Accademia To See David Worth It?
  • Top Things to See at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty in 2023
    Top Things to See at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty…
  • How To Visit the Statue of Liberty in 2023: Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More
    How To Visit the Statue of Liberty in 2023: Tickets, Hours,…
The best hotels in Florence

Best Florence hotels
this year!

Footer

COMPANY

  • About Us
  • Travel Guide
  • Trip Planning
  • In The Press

POLICY & TERMS

  • Cancellation Policy
  • Travel Insurance
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

CONTACT US

  • USA or Canada: +1 888 290 5595
  • Italy: +39 06 9480 4747
  • UK: +44 800 808 5370
  • Australia: +61 1300 113 254
  • France: +33 1 70700 898
  • Email: [email protected]

FIND US ON

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

WE ACCEPT

we accept payments

Copyright © 2023 The Tour Guy. All rights reserved.