Guided tour dedicated to the most famous statue in the world. Discover the history, secrets, and curiosities of Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the giant in Piazza Signoria.
The statue of David by Michelangelo
The guided tour begins at the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to the original David. The museum also features the Prisoners—unfinished works originally intended for the tomb of Julius II—Saint Matthew, and the Pietà of Palestrina. Alongside these Michelangelo masterpieces, the gallery houses an extensive collection of paintings, ranging from Gothic gold-ground panels by artists like Giotto and Lorenzo Monaco to early and late Renaissance works. There is also a section dedicated to music, where the guide will highlight Stradivari’s string instruments made for the Medici and the room dedicated to the invention of the piano. Finally, there is the 19th-century hall showcasing plaster casts by sculptors Bartolini and Pampaloni.
La visita guidata continua verso il Duomo di Firenze
Following Via Ricasoli, the tour reaches Piazza del Duomo. The David was commissioned by the Opera del Duomo in 1501 when a young Michelangelo was tasked with creating the statue to adorn one of the external pillars at the rear of the cathedral. The masterpiece was completed in about three years in an old workshop behind the cathedral, now the site of the Museo dell’Opera.
Signoria square
Another highlight of the guided tour is Piazza della Signoria. The Signoria of Florence acquired the David, and once completed, it was decided to place the statue in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, beside its main door. The public marveled at the sight of such a monumental marble statue, and its success was immediate. Nicknamed The Giant, it became a symbol of the Republic’s freedom against the arrogance of the Medici, who were in exile at the time. Today, a replica made by Arrighetti in the last century stands in the original location of Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Exploring the square also offers insights into the development of Florentine Mannerism, inspired by Michelangelo and exemplified by Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabine Women and Cellini’s Perseus with the Head of Medusa.
The Santa Croce District
The tour concludes in the Santa Croce district, where Michelangelo spent his early years. Later in life, he used his earnings to purchase a property on Via Ghibellina, where his descendants eventually built the Buonarroti Palace, now a museum dedicated to his legacy. The tour ends at the square in front of the Basilica of Santa Croce, which houses Michelangelo’s tomb, adorned with a funerary monument crafted by Vasari and the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno.