Michelangelo's David — 5.17 meters of marble perfection, carved 1501-1504 when he was 26 years old — stands at the end of a purpose-built tribune. The Prisoners (unfinished slaves) along the hall show his process. Yes, it is touristy. Yes, you should go.
Location
San Lorenzo / San Marco, Florence
Map
Insider Intel
Book timed entry in advance — walk-up queues rival the Uffizi. Walk straight to David first to avoid the crowds that linger, then work backwards through the Prisoners and the early Renaissance paintings. The museum is smaller than the Uffizi (90 min is sufficient) but David is the reason to come. Stand at multiple angles — the proportions were calculated to be viewed from below.
First entry slot (8:15am) for the most intimate experience with David. Late afternoon is second choice. Summer midday is overwhelming. Off-season weekdays are manageable.
David was originally commissioned for Florence Cathedral but placed in Piazza della Signoria in 1504 as a political symbol of the Florentine Republic. Moved to the Accademia in 1873 to protect it from weathering (a replica stands in the piazza now). Michelangelo carved it from a single block of Carrara marble that two other sculptors had abandoned. The proportions are intentionally distorted — the hands and head are oversized to appear correct from ground level. Photography allowed without flash. The museum holds other works but David is the pilgrimage. One of the most famous sculptures in history and it exceeds the hype.