One more thing checked off my "bucket list". Yesterday in Florence in the gallery of the The Accademia di Belle Arti ("Academy of Fine Arts"), after standing in a very long line, we viewed the world's most famous sculpture: David by Michelangelo Incredibly beautiful. That alone has made this trip to Italy worthwhile.
Interesting sidebar: In 1857 a cast of this famous sculpture was presented to Queen Victoria by the Grand Duke of Tuscany. She immediately had it moved to what is now the Victoria and Albert Museum. The story goes that on her first encounter with the cast of 'David' at the Museum, Queen Victoria was so shocked by the nudity that a proportionally accurate fig leaf was commissioned. It was then kept in readiness for any royal visits, when it was hung on the figure using two strategically placed hooks. *
The fig leaf is no longer displayed on the David at the V&A. Instead, it is housed in its own case on the back of the base of the figure.
* "David's Fig Leaf". Victoria and Albert Museum
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