Since 1873 the Galleria dell'Accademia has housed Michelangelo's David, one of the most famous sculptures in the world, demanding to be seen by anyone visiting the city of Florence.

The statue, made of white marble and over 4 metres tall, was carved by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504 and was to have been placed close to the Cathedral of Florence. However, the innovative treatment of the Biblical subject, with the young shepherd David portrayed nude in all the physical strength of a hero of antiquity, led the city governors to opt for a different location. The sculpture was duly placed in front of Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria, where it remained for over 350 years.

Emblematic of the ideals of the Republican city of the early years of the sixteenth century, the colossal figure of David has progressively become a synonym of formal perfection. It is characterised by a timeless beauty which is nevertheless rendered vital and palpitating by the muscular tension, by the emotive engagement revealed in the frown and by the torsion of the pose prior to movement.

The sculpture was recently subjected to an operation of cleaning; this was carried out in situ so that visitors to the Gallery were able to see the statue even during the restoration work, which was completed in May 2004.