The San Jose Mercury News ran a photo today of Michelangelo's David during restoration in Italy. The caption mentioned that David will be traveling to the US on Nov. 1 for temporary exhibits at the High Museum in Atlanta and the National Gallery in DC.

Since David doesn't usually do much traveling, do you have any advice for this travel novice?

yes...dress warmly!

Subcon: "warmly" as in fur-lined jockstrap? (Sorry, couldn't resist)

Is this for real? If so, it would be a momentous event and, unlike the San Jose Mercury News, the Washington Post has said nothing about it.

Wear three socks. Marble floors and the inevitable admiring hand could be cold.

The restoration itself isn't supposed to be done until Spring 2004, so I doubt he's going anywhere in the near future, if at all. And I also doubt it'd be next year, given that's his 500th birthday....

Amy, I was surprised to read the caption. Tried to get a URL for it to post here, but since it's not and article, it doesn't show up in the SJMN archives. I'm really surprised that the Florentines would let their precious treasure travel. The logistics and planning for the statue's safety seem mind-boggling.

Oops, make that <i>an</i> article not <i>and</i> article. Should have previewed.

Maybe they're letting the copy in front of the town hall travel?

Don't act like Rick Steeves and stick your arms and head outside moving trains. Bring a change of shirts (blue-green is passe), no monkish haircuts, and no desert boots and fanny packs. And pack a jacket for business casual places. No jeans and tennies policy in effect. Other than that, live it up.

Might you Californians consider offering Arnold to Florence as a stand-in during David's stay here in the U.S?

Is David REALLY touring? That's what I want to know. I have booked a trip to Florence during Thanksgiving, and I'd like to know if David will be out of town during my visit. I don't mind because I've seen him twice already, but my husband never has. (It's his first trip to Florence.)

Can we get confirmation anywhere on this?

Hi
The David that's on tour is
Andrea del Verrocchio's David, from Florence's Bargello museum

TuckH: I would happily offer Ahnald permanently! We may move to Nevada.

here's a press release

http://www.resnicowschroeder.com/news/high_david.html

Yes, keep in mind that there are more than ONE David. Hardly likely they would let THE David out of their sight.
halfpint.

Yes, I see that. I just went to the Web site for D.C.'s National Gallery of Art.

I'm half relieved and half disappointed. I didn't want to stand in that line again, but I didn't want my husband to miss it either....

Thanks Elaine.

Heidi
Don't stand in that line again, arrange for a timed entry reservation--your hotel can do it for you

Ummmm...the article says that it's Verrochio's David from the Bargello, not Michelangelo's from the Accademia, that will be at the museum in Atlanta. Big difference between them. See Verrochio's here:
http://www.abcgallery.com/V/verocchio/verocchio7.html

Mystery solved.

Kind of looks like Zena, warrior princess. Or Madonna.