The statue of David in Marseille

A monumental statue with its back to the sea
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Discover the story behind the statue of David, a copy of Michelangelo’s David, situated near the Prado beaches.

A replica of Michelangelo’s David

The original statue was sculpted by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504 from a single block of white Carrara marble. It measures 5.17 metres by 1.99 metres (excluding the pedestal) and depicts a naked man armed with a sling. The realism and attention to detail have made this sculpture one of the most famous masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance.

David is a very popular figure from the Old Testament, a shepherd’s son who became king. He is particularly known for defeating the giant Goliath with his sling. The choice of this episode from David’s life is no coincidence: the statue was originally placed in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, and symbolised the determination of the young Republic in the face of the ambitions of foreign powers with more powerful armies.

Since 1873, David has been on display at the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, but numerous reproductions have been made over the centuries, including the one you can admire in Marseille.

From the Palais Longchamp to the Boulevard du Prado

The statue of David was originally intended for the Museum of Fine Arts at the Palais Longchamp, whilst the plaster model used to create it is housed at the École des Beaux-Arts, now the Conservatoire de musique.

However, it was decided to place the statue in a public space. The David conceived by Michelangelo and recreated by Jules Cantini was unveiled on 17 November 1951 at the end of Boulevard du Prado, just a few metres from the sea. It is here that you can still admire it today.

The statue of David occupies a prime location, at the heart of a vast project aimed at transforming this area in the south of Marseille into a fully-fledged seaside resort. Just a stone’s throw from Borély Park, the racecourse and the beaches developed in 1977 by Mayor Gaston Defferre, this monumental work serves as a landmark for the people of Marseille.

Practical information

You can easily get to the statue of David by public transport:
Rond-Point-du-Prado metro station (Line 2), then bus routes 19, 19B or 83
Castellane metro station (Lines 1 and 2), then bus routes 19 or 19B.

There are plenty of things to do nearby, including beaches, a water sports centre, green spaces, restaurants and shops. The statue of David is located about 500 metres from Borély Park, known for its extensive gardens, tree-lined avenues, lake and château, which houses the City of Marseille’s Museum of Decorative Arts, Ceramics and Fashion.