MSS Tour sightseeing highlight on April 7: The Accademia Gallery - Florence

While in Florence, the MSS will have the opportunity to visit the Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze, an art museum particularly being famous for its sculptures David and the Prisoners by Michelangelo. David arrived in the gallery 1873. Commisssioned by the Opera del Duomo in 1501, the work was deliberately designed to symbolize the virtues of Republican Florence and freedom from foreign and papal domination. Recently, it has come to symbolize the ultimate symbol of the artistic and intellectual ambitions of the Renaissance. The 16-foot high block of marble was transformed in 3 years into the work of art that was to establish. David was always intended as an outdoor sculpture which explains some of the extraordinary physical distortions evident in the statue. Watch for the overly large hands and head! Even the eyes are made to be looked at from below. When examined from statue eye levee, in fact, the two eyes were found to be looking in different directions. Make sure you will check this out when you are there! Another must see is Botticelli's Madonna and Child as well his Madonna of the Sea.