Day Two

For day two of your Florence visit, make viewing Michelangelo’s David your first priority by heading to the Galleria dell’Accademia. The facility boasts many important paintings and sculptures, all of which are ultimately overshadowed by Michelangelo’s sculpting tour de force. The 17-foot tall masterpiece was sculpted between 1501 and 1504 from a piece of leftover marble discarded by another artist.

 

The work was originally intended for display on the façade of the Duomo, meaning it would be viewed from a distance, and from below. This explains the fact that the statue’s proportions are a bit skewed when, at the time, perfect proportions were considered a sculptor’s ultimate goal. The statue’s head is too large for the body, but when viewed at an angle from below, it would have been considered perfect. These small details reflect Michelangelo’s genius. 

 

The statue stood in the Piazza della Signoria until 1873 when it was moved to the Galleria dell’Accademia out of concern for decay. It was placed beneath a rotunda built specifically for its display.

 

When you finished gazing at Michelangelo’s version, head to the National Museum (Museo Nazionale del Bargello) to view a few more famous Davids. The building originally operated as the Medici police headquarters during the Renaissance. It became a museum in 1865 and now displays some of the most important Renaissance sculptures. Donatello’s bronze David, is notable for being the first unsupported standing bronze work since the classical times. The museum also displays a second David by Michelangelo, sculpted some 30 years after his famous one in the Galleria dell’Accademia.

 

After lunch, stroll across the Ponte Vecchio and spend the afternoon exploring the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. The Brunelleschi designed Palazzo Pitti was built in the mid-15^th century, and it served as one of the Medici family’s residences. Now it contains several museums, the most significant of which is the Galleria Palatina, which displays works by Titan and Raphael. Some of the other museums in the Palazzo Pitti are the Museo degli Argenti, the Coach and Carriage Museum, and the Galleria del Costume.

 

Behind the Pitti Palace are the famous Boboli Gardens, designed by the 16^th century landscape artist, Triboli. Work continued after his death, ultimately creating one of the most lush and dramatic private gardens in Italy.