Florence Through Its Sculptures: From Donatello to Michelangelo’s David
3.5 hours
While Renaissance paintings dazzle in museums, Florence's outdoor sculptures broadcast the city's daring in plain sight – from Donatello’s defiant Saint George to Michelangelo’s David, a 17-foot-tall declaration of civic freedom. This tour decodes the politics, rivalries, and sheer audacity carved into the stone of Florence’s greatest masterpieces.
Tour Highlights
1. Piazza della Signoria
Stand where Michelangelo’s David originally faced down tyrants (now replaced by a copy)
Discover how Cellini’s Perseus and Giambologna’s Hercules turned this square into a "stone theater" of Medici propaganda
Unravel the hidden messages in the Loggia dei Lanzi’s sculptures – where marble captives and mythological scenes whispered political dissent
2. Orsanmichele
A Gothic gem where Donatello’s Saint Mark revolutionized sculpture with its lifelike stance
See how Florence’s guilds used statues of their patron saints as Renaissance billboards
Spot the bullet holes still visible from the 1494 uprising against the Medici
3. Accademia Gallery
Meet David in his current home – and learn why Michelangelo’s teenage triumph became Florence’s moral compass
Study the unfinished Prisoners, their twisted forms seeming to struggle free from marble – Michelangelo’s manifesto on human potential
Contrast David with Giambologna’s Baroque Rape of the Sabine – one serene, the other explosively dynamic
Bonus: Peek into the Gypsoteca, a haunting workshop of 19th-century plaster casts that trained generations of sculptors
Key Details
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Closed Mondays
- Tickets: Accademia entry not included – we guide you through official booking
Guide Bio:
Your guide is a brilliant British-Italian expert in Renaissance culture, with decades of experience teaching art and history at prestigious institutions. A published academic and former broadcaster for renowned arts programs, she blends deep scholarly knowledge with a storyteller’s flair. Fluent in the secrets of Florence, she’s dedicated to sharing the city’s wonders beyond the guidebooks.
Private Group Pricing:
1 person: €340 (a private deep dive into Florence’s soul)
2 people: €170 per person
3 people: €115 per person
4 people: €85 per person
5 people: €69 per person
6 people: €59 per person
7 people: €50 per person
8 people: €45 per person
Why it’s worth it: You’re not just booking a tour—you’re gaining a historian’s expertise, uncovering hidden gems most visitors miss, and creating memories that outlast any souvenir.