Italian sculpture has long been celebrated for its mastery of form, expression, and artistic innovation. Among the many exquisite works of art, several statues have achieved global renown, becoming iconic symbols of both Italy's rich cultural heritage and the broader world of art. These masterpieces transcend time and continue to captivate audiences with their beauty and significance. We will explore ten most famous Italian statues that surely deserve a second look!
1. The Statue of David – Florence
(Photo by Italiarail)
Artist: Michelangelo
Year: 1501-1504
Medium: Carrara marble
Location: Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence
Roughly the size of a two-story building (17 feet, 6 tons), two other previous sculptors deemed the marble block unworkable. In the masterful hands of Michelangelo, he created one of the most celebrated sculptures in all of Italy. From 1501 to 1504, Michelangelo would work to portray the biblical story of David before his defeat of Goliath. Pay close attention to the exaggerated size of David’s right hand. Most art experts believe it is a secret reference to the nickname of David, “Strong of hand.”
2. The Pieta - Rome
(Photo by wikipedia)
Artist: Michelangelo
Year: 1498-1499
Medium: Marble
Location: St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome
Another one of the masterpiece statues in Italy that Michelangelo sculpted, Pietà means “Pity” or “Compassion.” It represents the great sorrow of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she holds the dead body of Jesus in her lap. The Pietà is the only artwork of Michelangelo that shows his signed name on it. He added his name after a spectator saw the work and attributed it to another artist. Michelangelo spent most of his life in Florence, but he would create this work during a short 5-year period that he spent in Rome when Cardinal de Bilheres commissioned him.
3. Apollo and Daphne – Rome
(Photo by Maartenonline)
Artist: Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Year: 1622-1625
Medium: Marble
Location: Galleria Borghese, Rome
Pulling from Greek mythology, this is one of the famous statues in Italy that captures the exact moment that Daphne turns into a tree. In the story, Apollo, god of music and poetry, was madly in love with the nymph Daphne, but she was a woman sworn to remain a virgin. Taking a closer look at the statue, you will see Daphne’s hands turn into leaves. Her toes, meanwhile, turn into roots, and her torso begins to turn into tree bark.
4. Madonnina – Milan
(Photo by Flick)
Artist: Giuseppe Perego and Giuseppe Bini
Year: 1774
Medium: Statuary Bronze
Location: Milan Cathedral, Milan
It's been the symbol of Milan since 1774 when it was placed on the highest tip of the Cathedral’s spires. This statue of the Virgin Mary has always been protecting the city from above and no new building nor skyscraper can be higher than that (108m)! To “solve the problem”, architects are used to placing a copy of the statue on top of every new skyscraper.
5. Veiled Christ – Naples
(Photo by Reddit)
Artist: Giuseppe Sanmartino
Year: 1753
Medium: Marble
Location: Cappella Sansevero, Naples
It was made in 1753 by a young local artist charged to reproduce the dead body of Christ covered by a shroud. He was so good at sculpting the shroud that it actually looks like an ultra-light veil even if it’s made of marble! Considered one of the finest statues ever made, you can feel all the pain and piercing of the body in the Veiled Christ statue.
6. Moses – Rome
(Photo by Italy magazine)
Artist: Michelangelo
Year: 1513-1515
Medium: Marble
Location: Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli
One of the best sculptures in Italy, you can look at this sculpture and feel the biblical Moses as a living, breathing figure who represents the might and will of God. It was commissioned to Michelangelo as an ornament for the tomb of Pope Giulio II and it represents Moses holding the Tablets of the Law. Legend has it that Michelangelo was so into the statue that he threw his hammer at it saying: “Moses, why don’t you speak?”
7. Riace Bronzes – Reggio Calabria
(Photo by Artnet New)
Artist: Unknown
Year: 1753
Medium: Bronze
Location: Cappella Sansevero, Naples
These Greek bronze statues representing two naked soldiers were only discovered in 1972. A scuba diver spotted something in the sand 200m off the beach of Riace Marina and archeologists pulled out these ancient statues (dating back to the V century BC) that were incredibly well preserved! From that moment on, they became the symbol of Calabria.
8. Rape of Proserpina -Rome
(Photo by Wikipedia)
Artist: Bernini
Year: 1621
Medium: Marble
Location: Borghese Gallery – Rome
Bernini sculpted it in 1621 at the age of 23. This work represents a scene from Ovid’s Metamorphosis (god Pluto kidnapping Proserpina) and it is incredibly realistic (a tear on Proserpina’s cheek, Pluto’s fingers leaving signs on her skin, and many other small details). It was commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese who was an art enthusiast and loved to be surrounded by sculptures made by contemporary artists.
9. Laocoön and His Sons
(Photo by Wikipedia)
Artist: Agesander, Athenodoros and Polydoru
Year: 30 BCE
Medium: Marble
Location: Vatican Museums – Rome
It's an ancient sculptural group made by three Greek artists from Rodhe. It represents a scene from the Aeneid: the priest Laocoön and his sons are taken by some giant sea snakes after having told the Trojans to keep the famous wooden horse out. This sculpture probably belonged to Emperor Titus, since it was found among the remains of his villa.
10. Juliet Statue – Verona
(Photo by Stuttgart Citizen)
Artist: Nereo Costantini
Year: 1969-1972
Medium: Bronze
Location: Casa di Giulietta, Verona
The statue of Juliet is today one of the most famous Italian sculptures. Originally, they positioned the statue in the courtyard of Juliet’s house, and they once considered it good luck to touch the right breast of Juliet. That fact eventually forced them to move the real statue to Giuletta’s house museum and a copy of the statue now sits in the courtyard.
These 10 famous Italian statues are treasured for their artistic excellence and cultural significance, spanning different eras and styles. Wherever they are located these statues have served as a major tourist attraction in the region. Moreover, there are plenty of other things to explore around them. Make sure that you tick them all off your bucket list this year so that you have more unique historical statues in Italy to see with your loved ones in the coming year!
Watch more: More famous Italian statues