How To See the Statue of David in Florence in 2023
Sean Finelli
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.
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
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
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.
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!
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