Michelangelo in Florence: a guided tour with David

This three-hour private guided tour is designed for those seeking a deeper understanding of Michelangelo’s world—his life, challenges, celebrated works, and lesser-known masterpieces. 

Our exploration begins at the Accademia, home to the renowned David and some of Michelangelo’s incomplete statues created at various points in his career.

In this Michelangelo in Florence private tour we’ll venture into the San Lorenzo neighborhood, we enter the Medici Chapels, where Michelangelo designed and sculpted tombs for his Florentine patrons, the Medici family. 

Passing by the Duomo square, our journey takes us to the lesser-known yet remarkable Bargello museum. Housing National Museum of Sculpture, alongside Renaissance masterpieces by Donatello and Benvenuto Cellini, it showcases several statues by Michelangelo, including Baccus, Brutus, and the Tondo Pitti, offering insight into different phases of his life.

The house of David: La Galleria dell’Accademia 

Our tour kicks off at the Galleria dell’Accademia with Michelangelo’s absolute masterpiece, David. Skip the line with your private guide and reserved ticket to maximize your time. While the gallery features Medieval and Renaissance paintings, Neoclassical statues and musical instruments, we focus on Michelangelo’s marble sculptures. Stand captivated by the four Slaves, unfinished works intended for the funeral monument of Pope Julius II, a project spanning 35 years, making it the most significant commission of Michelangelo’s life, as your guide narrates the entire story. The four statues were then inherited by sculptor’s nephew, Leonardo, who decided to give them to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I of the Medici family. 

What happened to the funeral monument of the Pope, that should be the most important commission of Michelangelo’s life? Let your private guide tell the whole story!

David: the greatest masterpiece

The visit continues with the iconic David, the centerpiece of the Galleria dell’Accademia. Crafted when Michelangelo was only 26, it stands as one of the world’s most renowned statues. As the first colossal nude and anatomically accurate sculpture of the Renaissance, David originally graced Piazza della Signoria in front of Palazzo Vecchio. 

Uncover the identity of David, the reasons for his nudity, and why he was placed in the square through the insights of your expert guide on this Michelangelo-dedicated itinerary.

The Medici Chapels

Expressing Michelangelo’s love for the Renaissance, our private tour proceeds to the Medici Chapels in the New Sacristy, commissioned by the first Medici Pope, Leo X. 

The Medici wanted to be eternal and the only way to be was through art. 

This great mausoleum, adorned with allegorical sculptures like Night and Day, Dusk and Dawn, and The Virgin Mary with the Child, is Michelangelo’s creation to immortalize the Medici family through art.

As you step into this magnificent structure, Michelangelo’s architectural prowess, expressed in the precision of shapes and the whiteness of Carrara marble, unfolds before you. 

From Seat of the Government to Prison, from Prison to Museum: The Bargello 

Our private tour extends to the Bargello, the National Museum of Sculpture. Originally built in the 14th century for the Government of Florence and later repurposed as a prison, this palace reveals Michelangelo’s lesser-known works, including Baccus and Brutus. With your private guide, delve into the museum’s offerings to gain a richer understanding of the artist and his connection to Florence.

Yearning for more Michelangelo in Firenze?

Let us know! We can customize the Michelangelo in Florence tour to include a visit to his burial place in the Basilica of Santa Croce. Alternatively, you can join our Uffizi Guided Tour, to appreciate his painting in Florence’s most esteemed gallery.