Florence “David” guided tour.

Lulu, can you explain a bit more what a "David" tour is? You mean just to see the sculpture in the Accademia? If so, this after-hours tour is a little longer than your preference (1.5 hours) and isn't private but the group size is small (max of 10). It is still going to run you $231.80 for 4 but with inclusion of entry fee and after-hours guide time, that's not unreasonable.

https://theromanguy.com/tours/italy/florence-tuscany/david-under-the-stars-evening-tour

It's not offered every day, however; looks like Tuesdays and Thursdays.

That tour mentioned by Kathy looks like a good way to see the David without a crowd. I believe that if you hire a private guide, they will meet you there and you will be in the room during regular hours, with many other people.

The more you learn about the statue in advance, the more you will appreciate it, so it is worth spending some time researching online. When we visited in 2010, we had the benefit of my son’s experience in Florence as a college student, working on a project to scan Michaelangelo’s sculptures, including David, with lasers to create 3-D images. At that time (2010), there were computer screens in the museum that one could use to explore the minute details of the sculpture. I don’t think they are there now.

https://accademia.stanford.edu/mich/

The scanning process was repeated in 2020 with even greater accuracy, using newer equipment. The result is a full-size replica made with 3-D printers, destined for Dubai:

https://www.accademia.org/520-david-to-go-to-dubai/

Wish I had an answer.

Will say on the 7 day RS Florence tour we had the privilege of seeing David. Just our group. No waiting in line and our RS Tour guide arranged for an art historian to be there to answers any questions.
We spent at least 25 minutes admiring Michelangelo’s brilliance.

Turning the corner and walking down the hallway to the statue still resonates as one of my most enjoyable travel memories!

It was a wonderful tour! And no, I don’t work for RS.
Simply stating a fact.

I have a suggestion, but I'm not sure it will satisfy your needs and budget.

We took the Walks of Italy Best of Florence Walking Tour. It is limited to 10 people. It starts at the Accademia at opening with a skip the line entrance. This worked out great because it is less crowded at opening. You spend an hour in the Accademia, with ~40 minutes of guided tour and 20 minutes of free time before moving on.

Then you spend a lovely morning walking through the heart of Florence. It is a great way to get oriented and would be a good way to start your visit in Florence. Our guide had a Master's Degree in Italian art and history and was very knowledgeable and friendly.

The tour is $75.00 per adult, which would be the same cost as Artviva. However, it's a 3 hour tour instead of just one hour. We actually ran a little long since we had a good group and the guide was enjoying it.

Florence holds a special place in our hearts. We met on a high school tour of Europe and my wife and I shared our first kiss in Florence, August 10, 1966. We've been going steady ever since.

I hope you have a great trip!

Walks of Italy would have been perfect, especially since I have $400 voucher. The problem is the time and dates don’t work with my schedule. It sure about a night tour as we only have 3 nights. The first night is arrival day and I booked the Duomo climb for 4:30. I don’t think anyone will be up fir a tour after that. The next night I want to go to the Piazza Michaelangelo and to hear the Monk’s chant. The 3rd day is an all day Tuscany tour,

I’d really like to go the 2nd day late morning, I’m just not prepared to spend $300 for one hour.

The first night is arrival day and I booked the Duomo climb for 4:30.
I don’t think anyone will be up fir a tour after that. The next night
I want to go to the Piazza Michaelangelo and to hear the Monk’s chant.
The 3rd day is an all day Tuscany tour,

Arg, Lulu. Your itinerary is only leaving you one leg-lagged evening in Florence + one full day. You are traveling with a spouse and two adult (?) sons? Have all of your traveling partners bought into this itinerary? IMHO, sounds like you're trying to cram this museum experience into an already overloaded plan for a fascinating city, and maybe according your interests versus theirs. Are your other 3 traveling companions jazzed about the amount of guided tours you're looking at?

I guess it might be easier on you to hear from the other three - the majority - of your traveling companions about what they want to do/see?

I did talk to one son tonight and I think I’ll just get tickets to see David and we will listen to RS audio. I think it would be nice to just meander around most of the day on Sunday.

Sounds like you've got it all figured out. We'll hope for a sunny meandering day! :O)

In a word,

Guidebook

Buy a good one, you don't need a guide.

I went to the accademia website to purchase tickets. It’s my understanding we can purchase preset time. When I go to book, it’s in English, then when I click “buy”, the page is Italian, and I see no English filter nor calendar to choose a date. Does someone know if we can only buy tickets so far in advance? Also, does the one Price include David and the museum together?

If you are on the official site, https://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/en/visit/, it will take you to B-ticket where you choose your venue which provides a drop down to chose the date, which in turn gives you times. There is the choice of English at the bottom of the page.

To add to sjs's helpful post, this link takes you directly to the b-ticket page for the Accademia:

https://webshop.b-ticket.com/webshop/webticket/eventlist?production=4

If the calendar icon isn't showing, click "Galleria Accademia" under "Events" and it will come up on the left side of the page. Click to search you desired date. I clicked a random Sunday in May (May 15th) and it looks like you can buy tickets for that date so they're selling them pretty far in advance.

To add: this is a useful page for all of the Florentine museums that use the b-ticket site.
http://www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/uffizi/default_eng.aspx

Kathy and SJS,

Thank you so much! I wouldn’t have imagined the language choice to be at the bottom of the page. I went to the page to purchase tickets and choose the time. It’s in 15 minute increments. Does that mean it’s my preset time to enter the Accadamia or see David?

It's your time to enter the museum. The sculpture isn't in a special timed-entry room so you won't be alone! It's at the end of a long hallway.

Here's a map of the museum:
https://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/visita/#

"David" is in area 4.

Thank you for all your help!

When are you going? Last time we were there was November pre-pandemic, Granted, the weather stinks, but with mid-week advance purchase tickets at opening time, we were alone, completely alone, with David for at least half an hour. Maybe it was dumb luck, but the privilege of 30+ minutes alone was worth carrying the umbrella.

So, so, so frustrating. I have tried 4 times to order. I get as far as entering all my info, plus my CC number and submit. It pulls up another page that says Error, but won’t say what the error is.

Wanderlust, did you purchase your tickets online at the official website? We’re going in May, but on a Sunday.

Are you entering the date correctly?

8/5//22 not 5/8/22 you may have to do 08/05/22 or 2022

While it may LOOK like they're selling tickets several months in advance, it could be that they're not, thus the issue. See this previous thread:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/trouble-booking-for-uffici

Uffizi ticketing is also through b-ticket so I'm guessing it may just be a similar, too-early thing. You could contact them and ask the question?

Tel. +39 055 0987100
Email: ga-afi.info@beniculturali.it

Kathy, I read thru the link and one poster described the exact same scenario. I bet that’s it. I do wish these websites would mention they are only taking reservations xxx days. Thank you for the contact info. I will email them and get back with what I find out.

I’ve not heard back from the museum, or the b-ticket website. Not sure what to do. If I call on my cell, are there charges, I would think there would be.

Personally, I'd sit on it awhile longer. If waiting is going to drive you nuts, consider this? If there's a cost (depends on your carrier/plan) it's probably a drop in the bucket compared to what you're spending on this trip so dial 'em up!

True. Maybe someone who lives in Italy might be kind enough to do that if they read this?

I expect that the error is with two step authentication of your card. Have you signed up for the two step authentication so popular on this side of the ocean? Have they got your phone number for a text message?

You are using Visa or Mastercard? Or trying with Amex (they have their own 2 step too)?

If you want call cheaply from your phone have you considered Skype-out? Just a few cents a minute...

This individual called them and they said they're having issues with their reservation system.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/trouble-booking-for-uffici

Thanks Kathy! Guess I’ll need to call, I wonder if I can use WhatsApp.