A sanctuary for one of the most famous statues in the world - Michelangelo's David, it is well worth the wait in the snaking queue. Carved out of a single block of marble, with veins inherent in the stone itself, observe the subtle details of this iconic masterpiece – the veins in his sinewy arms, the well-defined muscles and be intrigued by David's changing facial expressions as you move around the statue.

Furthermore, gaze at the extensive collection of fine paintings by Florentine artists, mostly from the Trecento to the Late Renaissance and look out for The Pietà. Relish in the splendid beauty of Botticelli’s 'Madonna of the Sea', with the exquisite gold details and the pomegranate held by baby Jesus, symbolic of Christ’s passion and the star ‘Stella Maris’, glittering on Mary’s cobalt blue robe. For classical music lovers, head for The Musical Instrument Museum to see the handmade Medici violin by Antonio Stradivari and also other instruments from Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano.