Perseus Statue Tours and Activities

Sculpted in 1545 by Benvenuto Cellini, Perseus with the Head of Medusa is one of the main attractions in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria. The bronze statue, which depicts the Greek hero Perseus defeating the monster Medusa, is considered to be a great masterpiece of Italian Mannerism.

The Perseus statue was added to the Piazza della Signoria amongst some of the more significant statues of the time, such as Michelangelo’s David and Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus. Admire the statue during your visit to the popular square, which is lined with shops and restaurants.

Walking tours of Florence often include a stop in the piazza and discuss the Perseus statue, and also visit the nearby Arno River and Duomo (Florence Cathedral); private tours offer a more personal, customized experience. Travelers frequently pair the Perseus statue and Piazza della Signoria with the adjacent Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio.

The Perseus statue is best accessed on foot, and is only a 7-minute walk from the Duomo and 3-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio. If arriving by taxi, provide Piazza della Signoria as your destination. The statue is located in the piazza’s southeast corner, directly in front of the Loggia dei Lanzi.

Visiting Florence’s outdoor statues and piazzas is ideal during the summer months. However, the crowds thin when the weather gets colder, from September through March. Go then for quieter and relatively unobstructed visits to the Perseus statue, Palazzo Vecchio, and Uffizi Gallery.

Visitors often describe Piazza della Signoria as an open-air museum. In addition to the Perseus statue, the piazza is home to a replica of Michelangelo’s David (where the original once stood; it’s now at the Accademia Gallery, or Galleria dell'Accademia), Fountain of Neptune by Bartolomeo Ammannati, a copy of Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes, and Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus.