Michelangelo and David

Florence is all about Michelangelo - and one of his best known (if not THE best known) works is the statue of David. So this is what I learned about it: The original marble statue is in the Accademia Gallery. The detail is exquisite. It was originally designed to be placed on top of a building, which accounts for the hands being a bit over-sized.

There is a copy in the Piazza Signori, which is something of an outdoor gallery.

And while the copy of Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna is in the Accademia Gallery, the original is in the Piazza Signori.

Note the detail on the original - just like someone is pressing into flesh, rather than marble.

Anyway, back to Michelangelo and David. Within the Accademia Gallery there are some unfinished pieces by Michelangelo. Another Pieta - the more famous completed one Michelangelo did is in the Vatican.

And then there is a bronze version of David in Piazzale Michelangelo.

Piazzale Michelangelo is also where you get the best panoramic views of the city.