Michelangelo's iconic statue of David will grace the Italian Pavilion at the Milan Expo 2015 global trade convention, officials announced last week.
Italian Pavilion chief Diana Bracco signed a deal with the regional government of Tuscany to have a copy made of the statue, which is housed at Florence's Accademia Gallery.
It will be placed at the center of the pavilion welcoming millions of visitors as a symbol of Italian art and genius.
The David was unveiled in Piazza della Signoria in 1504, outside Palazzo Vecchio, the seat of Florence's civic government. It was moved to the Galleria dell'Accademia in the 19th century for preservation reasons.
The David was an emblem of the city republic's pride and its ability, despite its small size, to defend itself against much bigger rivals, as well as representing the Renaissance ideal of manhood.
The same week of the announcement, Italy’s prime minister Enrico Letta discussed the impact and significance of the Expo, saying it will provide a "key global forum" to discuss such important issues as poverty and nutrition.
