The Marble Man

Michelangelo’s “David” is perfect; no mortal man can compare.
For those of us who aren’t art aficionados, is a visit to Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia to see the real slingshot hero worth the trouble when you can see several copies of him around the city for free?
Yes. If you do nothing else in Florence, visit “David.” Skip the rest of the Galleria dell’Accademia if you’re short on time, just make sure you see this marble man in the flesh.

FRANK CAMP / FLICKR

You’ll wander through hallway after hallway of gorgeous paintings, the brushstrokes blending together, but then, you’ll turn right out of a hallway and see him: a giant, 13-foot tall hunk of white marble, the most beautiful man in the world. With light streaming through a domed skylight directly above him, a natural halo makes “David” so arresting you will stop dead in your tracks to gape at his splendor. You’ll stand there, jaw around your knees, and marvel at the detail of the musculature, the sheer awesome size of this statue. You’ll traipse around the sculpture, admiring “David” from a full 360 degrees. Then, as if in a trance, you’ll settle onto one of the benches the museum has so generously provided – complete with a fantastic view of the world’s most attractive derrière.
You swear you’ll never look at a hunk of marble again — you’re in love.