Tug of War over Michelangelo's David

Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:56 pm » by **Eliakim**

Michelangelo's 'David' in tug-of-war between Florence, Rome
(AFP) – 1 day ago
ROME — A longstanding dispute over who owns Michelangelo's statue "David" -- a lucrative tourist magnet -- has reopened between the Italian government and the city of Florence, reports said Monday.

Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi said he had "no doubt" that his city is the rightful owner of the sculpture and that Florence deserved to benefit from the eight million euros (10 million dollars) tourists pay each year to see it -- money that currently goes into national coffers.

"All the documents attest to it," the centre-left mayor told the ANSA news agency.
Renzi said the ownership of the Carrara marble masterpiece had been transferred to his city in 1871, when Florence lost its status as temporary capital of the newly unified Italy and it shifted to Rome.

But two government lawyers said they had concluded once again that the statue belongs to Rome.

Culture Minister Sandro Bondi of the centre-right People of Freedom party called the debate "absurd and untimely, because the 'David' is a symbol of cultural unity for Florence and for Italy."

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