Man Climbs Florence’s David Statue: Police Investigate Nighttime Stunt

A man was filmed climbing the replica of Michelangelo’s David in Piazza della Signoria in the early hours of Sunday morning, August 3, 2025, sparking outrage online and prompting an investigation by local authorities.The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on August 3.

The man, wearing a light-colored shirt and red shorts, managed to climb from the statue’s left leg up to its waist, reportedly cheered on by friends nearby. The scene was captured both by bystanders and by security cameras, and footage quickly made its way to social media, where it gained widespread attention. The video was posted on Instagram by the account Welcome to Florence. 

Florence’s municipal police have opened an investigation and forwarded the case to the public prosecutor’s office. The individual involved may face charges related to the unlawful use of cultural heritage, among other possible offenses. At this time, he has not yet been identified.

This is not the first time the David replica — a symbol of the city and one of its most iconic open-air artworks — has been targeted. In March 2022, it was damaged by a man who set fire to a black cloth draped over the statue as a gesture of protest, causing €15,000 worth of damage.

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The incident adds to growing concerns over the lack of effective night-time monitoring in Florence’s historic center. Just a few weeks ago, a group of climbers scaled the Basilica of Santa Croce, recording the act and sharing it online, also prompting an investigation by local police.

That episode led to renewed calls for tighter controls around Florence’s monuments and raised questions about the city’s ability to protect its open-air heritage from acts of vandalism and reckless behavior.

While these stunts often go viral and are sometimes dismissed as pranks, they highlight a serious issue: the fragility of Florence’s cultural treasures and the difficulty of safeguarding them in a city that welcomes millions of visitors but struggles to ensure adequate surveillance after dark.

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