David replicas in Florence: where to find them
The statue you see outdoors in Florence is a copy. The original Michelangelo's David stands inside the Galleria dell'Accademia. The best-known copy is the one in front of the Palazzo Vecchio on the Piazza della Signoria, where the original stood until 1873. A second, bronze copy stands on the Piazzale Michelangelo, above the Arno.
The copies are worth seeing, but they are not a substitute for the original. Up close in the Tribuna you see the real marble and the real scale. If you want that, start with Accademia Gallery tickets or a guided visit to the Accademia.
The two copies compared
A short comparison for planning.
| Piazza della Signoria | Piazzale Michelangelo | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Marble | Bronze |
| Setting | In front of the Palazzo Vecchio, in the historic centre | On a terrace above the Arno, with views over the city |
| Detail | Stands where the original stood from 1504 to 1873 | Part of a monument with bronze copies of the Medici allegories |
| Date | Marble copy dated to 1910 | Transport of the monument dated 25 June 1873 |
| Combine with | Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi | The Oltrarno side of the city |
For most visitors, the Signoria copy is the one to fit into a city walk, because it sits in the middle of the old centre. Add the Piazzale if you are already planning the south bank.
Our pick: original and copies in one day
Our take: this guided day passes Piazza della Signoria and includes the Accademia.
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Tickets and guided visits to see the original David
Time-slot tickets and guided tours of the Galleria dell'Accademia, with live prices and availability.
The marble copy on the Piazza della Signoria
The copy stands next to the entrance of the Palazzo Vecchio. It marks the spot where the original stood outdoors for almost 370 years, from 1504 until it moved to the Accademia in 1873. The marble copy is dated to 1910. It is a later work and not the statue Michelangelo carved.
The square is also the place to read the story of the statue on site. Our history of the David explains why it was moved. The Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi are the neighbours, and the Uffizi page covers the museum.
The bronze copy on the Piazzale Michelangelo
The Piazzale Michelangelo has a bronze David as part of a monument that also includes bronze copies of the Medici allegories. These are the figures of Night, Day, Evening and Dawn from the tombs in the Medici Chapels. A transport of the monument is dated 25 June 1873. That is a transport date, not necessarily the day of a ceremony.
The Piazzale lies in the Oltrarno, across the Arno from the old centre. For the square itself, the view and what to combine it with, see the Piazzale Michelangelo guide. The original allegories are in the Medici Chapels, described in our Michelangelo in Florence guide.
Other Davids in Florence
Do not mix up copies and different works.
Donatello's David
Donatello made his own David. It is a separate work by another artist and stands in the Bargello. It is not a copy of Michelangelo's statue.
Verrocchio's David
Verrocchio also made a David, also in the Bargello. It, too, is an independent work.
Michelangelo's other David
The Bargello's Michelangelo room holds the sculptures Bacchus, Apollo/David and Brutus. The Apollo/David is a different work and not a model of the Accademia statue.
Michelangelo in Florence →The two copies above are the ones that matter for a visit. Measurements such as the 5.17 m height belong to the original; see the facts about the David.
Copy or original: what you get
Why the original is inside.
The original is indoors on purpose
The David moved into the Accademia in 1873 to protect it from the weather. A marble statue left outside for centuries is exposed to rain, wind and temperature changes, which is why the outdoor figures are copies.
Copies show the pose, not the stone
On the Piazza della Signoria you see the pose and the setting where the original stood. In the Tribuna you see the carved marble, the scale of 5.17 m including the base, and the hall built for the statue.
Plan the original first
If you have one David slot in your trip, give it to the Accademia and add the copies on a walk. The Galleria dell'Accademia guide shows what else the visit includes.
David replica in Florence: frequently asked questions
Where is the David replica in Florence?
The marble copy stands in front of the Palazzo Vecchio on the Piazza della Signoria. A bronze copy stands on the Piazzale Michelangelo.
Is the David on the Piazza della Signoria the original?
No. It is a copy. The original has been inside the Accademia since 1873.
When was the Signoria copy made?
The marble copy is dated to 1910. The original stood on the same square from 1504 to 1873.
What is on the Piazzale Michelangelo?
A bronze copy of the David, set in a monument with bronze copies of the Medici allegories.
Are Donatello's and Verrocchio's Davids copies?
No. They are independent works by those artists and are in the Bargello.
Is this the official site of the Accademia?
No. This is an independent guide and is not run by the museum, the city or a ticket seller.