Michelangelo’s David First Viewing | Semi-Private Accademia Tour
Enjoy an early morning tour of a nearly empty Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s statue David in a small group of no more than 6 people.
You will meet your expert guide outside the Accademia at 8 a.m. and enjoy early morning entry into the museum. Once through security, your guide will whisk you straight to the David: there he stands, towering above you, in all his marble beauty. A magical moment!
Your expert guide will then tour you through other highlights of the Gallery before escorting you out as visitors crowd in.
- Enjoy an early morning viewing of Michelangelo’s David on a semi-private tour
- Learn the amazing story of Michelangelo and David from your expert guide
- Admire the beauty, skill, and sheer hard work of the mighty Michelangelo
- Tour the other highlights of the Academia without the crowds
- Admire the iconic Slaves, Abduction of a Sabine Woman, and Coronation of the Virgin
Semi-Private tours and experiences are guaranteed six participants max.
Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)
Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English
Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system
Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions
Enjoy this expertly guided tour of Michelangelo’s iconic statue David and the Accademia Gallery with an expert, English-speaking guide. Your small group of no more than six people will be among the very first to view this breathtakingly beautiful collection, without the hordes of daytime visitors.
You will have the opportunity to experience the stunning, colossal masterpiece that is David, sculpted over 500 years ago by a 26-year-old Michelangelo Buonarotti. Sculpted from just one, vast piece of Carrara marble that had flummoxed at least two previous sculptors, Michelangelo famously said “I saw the angel in the marble and set him free.”
He used his own hand-made tools and originally coated the leaves and tree stump that form the base of the statue in gold leaf. After 400 years of standing outside in Piazza della Signoria, the gold leaf has worn away and it was for this reason that the statue was moved inside in the early 19th century.
Your guide will regale you with the many stories embedded in the statue and its political symbolism, as well as stories of Michelangelo’s life and work. He worked intensively, often going days without food, sleep, and washing. You’ll learn about the ‘contra posto’ stance of David, and be able to wander around the whole statue admiring his muscular beauty and wistful gaze.
Your guide will also share with you some of the other highlights of the Accademia including the Hall of Prisoners, where you’ll see the unfinished torsos also by Michelangelo. Called The Slaves, these four torsos look like they are ‘escaping’ their marble prison. You will also see the emotive statue The Abduction of a Sabine Woman by Giambologna as well as the magnificently opulent late medieval golden altarpiece by Jacopo di Cione, The Coronation of the Virgin.
The tour lasts for one hour so you’ll exit the Accademia in time for breakfast and delicious Florentine cappuccino and you can wave cheerfully at the crowds lined up outside as you leave!
- Semi private group of max 6 people
- First entry to the Accademia
- Privately guided viewing of David
- Tour of the Accademia
- The Slaves, Abduction of a Sabine Woman, and more
- Photography is only permitted without flash inside the museums.
- Backpacks are not permitted in the museum.
LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry. LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism and how LivTours is contributing, click here.
All LivTours Semi-Private Group Tours are limited to 6 guests per tour guide. Our commitment to maintaining our uniquely tiny group sizes can sometimes be a little tricky, mathematically speaking. For example, we want to ensure that traveling families and friends can tour together so on rare occasions we may add one or two guests in order to not split groups. On that same note, you may also find yourself on tour with less than six people! We thank you for your understanding and flexibility.
By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here.