Viator.com: Book things to do, sightseeing tours, activities and attractions in more than 70 countries worldwide.

What's so great about Viator?

Italy Florence
Florence Tours
Things to Do in Florence
Recommended
Nearby Destinations
Get the
Inside Scoop

I can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy

Book online or call

Call (888) 651-9785

Statue of David

34 Photos | Add your photo

4.5 star rating: Recommended 798 Reviews

Add your review

  • Address: Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence, Italy
  • Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15am until 6:50pm, with the last tickets sold at 6:20pm
  • Admission: Varies

Florence ATTRACTIONS See all

Statue of David Tours

The image of Michelangelo’s David statue, one of the world’s best-known works of art, is so ubiquitous in Florence that it has become a symbol of Italy’s Renaissance capital. Carved between 1501 and 1504 and installed at the custom-built Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia) in 1873, the masterpiece also symbolizes strength and human beauty.

The Basics
Michelangelo’s statue of David is one of the most popular sights in Florence—if not the entire art world—and there are always long lines to enter the Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia) in high season. To avoid waiting for hours under the hot Florentine sun, it is essential either to book skip-the-line tickets in advance or to join a guided tour that includes gallery entrance tickets along with an explanation of this important masterpiece. Once you’re inside, admire the four unfinished statues by Michelangelo, known as the Slaves or Prisoners, lining the hall leading to the rotunda under which David holds court. Many Florence city tours include visits to the Uffizi Gallery, Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore), and Accademia Gallery accompanied by an experienced tour guide, and small-group tours of the city center hit must-sees like Ponte Vecchio as well.

Things to Know Before You Go
  • Experiencing David is an absolute must for art lovers, Renaissance fans, and pretty much all first-time visitors to Florence.
  • Luggage, large bags, and backpacks are not allowed inside the gallery, and there is no coat or baggage check.
  • The gallery is entirely accessible to wheelchair users.

How to Get There
The Galleria dell’Accademia is located in the heart of Florence, an easy walk from the Santa Maria Novella train station, Duomo, and Piazza della Signoria.

When to Get There
Florence’s Accademia Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15am to 6:50pm; final entry is at 6:20pm. The gallery is closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1, and December 25. The gallery is most crowded from late morning through the afternoon, so consider reserving a private tour with exclusive early morning access to enjoy the famous statue before the throngs of daily visitors arrive.

Inauspicious Beginnings
The statue of David has a fascinating history, and did not seem initially destined for greatness. The block of marble Michelangelo was given to work with was flawed and had already been partly carved by his predecessor. Nonetheless he carved David to adorn the Duomo, but the finished statue was too heavy to hoist onto the cathedral and was placed instead at the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria. Not long after the statue was unveiled here, rioters at an anti-Medici rebellion threw a chair out of a window directly onto David's arm, which broke in three places. In 1873, David was moved to the safety of the Accademia Gallery, and a replica—one of many—now marks the spot where the original once stood.

Tours & Tickets

See all

Skip the Line: Florence Accademia and Uffizi Gallery Tour, Florence, null
TVRM_SORTED : false ESSENTIAL : ADMISSION :

Skip the Line: Florence Accademia and Uffizi Gallery Tour

4.5 star rating: Recommended 2009 Reviews

Explore Florence’s two must-visit art museums – the Accademia and Uffizi galleries – on this Florence combo tour! Start with a morning skip-the-line access and ...  Read more

Location: Florence, Italy
Duration: Flexible

From USD $91.58
Skip the Line: Florence Accademia Gallery Tickets, Florence, Literary, Art & Music Tours
TVRM_SORTED : false ESSENTIAL : ADMISSION :

Skip the Line: Florence Accademia Gallery Tickets

4.5 star rating: Recommended 766 Reviews

Skip the line with a fast-track entrance ticket and head inside Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia) in Florence to explore independently. Home to the ...  Read more

Location: Florence, Italy
Duration: Flexible

From USD $34.49
Skip The Line: Best of Florence Walking Tour including Accademia Gallery and Duomo, Florence, ... 
TVRM_SORTED : false ESSENTIAL : ADMISSION :

Skip The Line: Best of Florence Walking Tour including Accademia Gallery and Duomo

4.5 star rating: Recommended 872 Reviews

Take a small group tour of the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's famous statue of David and afterwards enjoy your walking tour of Florence. Numbers are ...  Read more

Location: Florence, Italy
Duration: 3 hours (approx.)

From USD $65.41
Skip-the-Line Florence Accademia Gallery Tour, Florence, Walking Tours
TVRM_SORTED : false ESSENTIAL : ADMISSION :

Skip-the-Line Florence Accademia Gallery Tour

4 star rating: Recommended 450 Reviews

See the original statue of ‘David,’ Michelangelo’s iconic Florentine masterpiece, inside the Accademia Gallery on a 1-hour and 15 minutes tour! Skip the line ...  Read more

Location: Florence, Italy
Duration: 75 minutes (approx.)

From USD $45.19
Viator Exclusive: Early Access to the Accademia Gallery in Florence with Breakfast, Florence, ... 
TVRM_SORTED : false ESSENTIAL : ADMISSION :

Viator Exclusive: Early Access to the Accademia Gallery in Florence with Breakfast

4.5 star rating: Recommended 107 Reviews

Get up close to Michelangelo’s ‘David’ on this Viator Exclusive with early access to the Accademia Gallery in Florence. Be among the first of the day to see ...  Read more

Location: Florence, Italy
Duration: 90 minutes (approx.)

From USD $77.30
Skip the Line: Small-Group Florence Renaissance Walking Tour with Accademia Gallery, Florence, ... 
TVRM_SORTED : false ESSENTIAL : ADMISSION :

Skip the Line: Small-Group Florence Renaissance Walking Tour with Accademia Gallery

4.5 star rating: Recommended 219 Reviews

Combine a walking tour of Renaissance-era Florence with a skip-the-line tour of the Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’ Accademia)! With a local guide, stroll ...  Read more

Location: Florence, Italy
Duration: 3 hours (approx.)

From USD $65.41
3-Day Italy Trip: Florence and Pisa, Rome, Walking Tours
TVRM_SORTED : false ESSENTIAL : ADMISSION :

3-Day Italy Trip: Florence and Pisa

3.5 star rating: Worth doing 18 Reviews

Escape to the romance of Tuscany on a 3-day tour from Rome! The rolling hills of Tuscany continue to shape Italy's rich culture, be it through art, history or ...  Read more

Location: Rome, Italy
Duration: 3 days (approx.)

From USD $421.01

See all

Customer Care
Company
Partnerships
Sites
Social
Find your next activity!
Top destinations

Some content licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
© 1997–Mon Jul 16 11:15:39 PDT 2018 Viator, Inc. CUR015 - 330205 All rights reserved. Viator is a registered trademark of Viator, Inc.
is a Service Mark of Viator, Inc. Travel with an Insider is a Service Mark of Viator, Inc.
Use of this website constitutes acceptance of Viator's Terms & Conditions.

BBB logo

Viator uses cookies to improve your experience on our website. Learn more about how we use cookies and how to change your cookie settings | Close message