Michelangelo's David 'at risk of falling over'
Cracks in the 500-year-old statue, which were filled in four years ago, have already reappeared, said Antonio Borri, a structural engineering professor at Perugia University in Umbria.
The weight of the 17-ft-tall statue, the poor quality of its marble and the accumulation of small shocks from building work or drilling in the streets outside have put it in danger of falling over, Professor Borri said.
However, he said that the statue, housed in Florence's Accademia Gallery, was not in danger of imminent collapse-- except in the event of a major earthquake.
Florence has a recorded history of more than 120 minor earthquakes, although none reached more than five on the Richter scale.
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The weight of the 17-ft-tall statue, the poor quality of its marble and the accumulation of small shocks from building work or drilling in the streets outside have put it in danger of falling over, Professor Borri said.
However, he said that the statue, housed in Florence's Accademia Gallery, was not in danger of imminent collapse-- except in the event of a major earthquake.
Florence has a recorded history of more than 120 minor earthquakes, although none reached more than five on the Richter scale.