Our tour group was split into two with a new guide joining and taking away half the group in order to enter the Academia Gallery. We stayed with the original guide.
Since we had booked the tour through the cruise line, our tickets for entry were already purchased as part of the tour with a designated time.
The line for those who did not yet have tickets was immense and pretty much unmoving - if you want to go in, plan ahead and be sure to have tickets ready before you get there or book a tour that arranges it ahead of time.
Some security and bag check to get in - even since a nutbar attacked the statue with a hammer, they've been rather careful about what you bring into the building.
After the main entrance you enter into smaller rooms filled with amazing art:
You then turn a corner and there it is, right in front of you in a room all to itself:
Michelangelo's David inspires awe when you see it like that in person. Simply breathtaking for a moment.
Hard to explain why, but the masterpiece seemed to have that effect on everyone who entered the room and first saw it.
A true masterpiece in marble, 17 feet tall, completed in 1504 and perhaps the finest work of Renaissance sculpture. Placed on a pedestal it towers above the visitors.
After seeing David, you can see many unfinished sculptures created by Michelangelo on display:
There's also a plethora of amazing Renaissance art to view, most, if not all, with religious themes. But, it is David that is the main attraction of the Academie and well worthy of being seen in person as one of the greatest works of art.
Certainly this was a highlight of the trip and truly awe-inspiring.
We then got some free time to explore Florence and then boarded the tour bus and headed to Pisa.
6 comments:
Aaron,
We visited that museum on our last trip to Italy. David is truly an extraordinary masterpiece. As you said...awe inspiring.
The level of detail is amazing.
juvat: It truly is a masterpiece and awe inspiring in person. Quite an experience.
Old NFO: And to think it was created back in the early 1500s by hand makes the level of detail even more impressive. Don't know about much modern art that comes close.
The David is awesome. The first thing I noticed was the balance; all that weight was perfectly balanced on his ankles; the second: David is not circumcised!
"The Agony and the Ecstasy" is one of my favorite Charlton Heston movies (oh, and Rex Harrison was alright too).
I don't know enough about Michelangelo's real life so nut sure what's true or not.
BUT !!!
What if Michelangelo to do his first love (stone work) full time???
"What if Michelangelo was allowed to do his first love (stone work) full time???
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