Accademia Gallery

Accademia Gallery : Italy Travel Guide : Nordic Visitor

In Florence, art is king. And “David” is his name. He has ruled since he was sculpted in 1504.

Come to his court at the Academia Gallery, and he’ll grant you an audience. He may be the world’s most famous statue, but he’s for everyone, and you have the right to admire him. He presides over a whole realm of art by Renaissance greats, which you can also enjoy.

Commissioned by the Opera del Duomo (the body overseeing work for Florence Cathedral), David was supposed to crown the cathedral’s roof. But once they saw him in the flesh, they realised he had a different purpose.

The religious figure from the biblical “David & Goliath” story became a political symbol of Florence’s freedom. They put him in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, the heart of the Florentine government. The Renaissance began in Florence and David is a symbol of all that’s good about it. Renaissance artists saw the glories of the classical world, and thought, “you’re on!”.

That’s why, despite being a biblical figure, he’s designed like an ancient Greek statue. It’s also why you can see the tiny details of his human form, down to the folds of his skin over muscle, and the movement of his hair.