Florence - Finally the "Seated Apollo" is back to its place in the First Hall of the Uffizi Gallery, after a long restoration sponsored by the Florentine section of Italia Nostra. Their support is part of a project that has already brought back to their original appearance other works, such as the "Dying Seneca", "Gulia Mesa", "Poppea" and "Nerone as a child".

The sculpture, which dates back to the first century A.D., is a replica of a work of the Hellenistic period (III or II century b.C.). It could be one of the first works that were included in the collections of the Uffizi around 1597. The "Seated Apollo" was found several times in ancient documents and inventories under the name of "naked man with tortoise", due the small animal, a symbol of evil, which is subjugated by Apollo in this work .

Its restoration by Anne Katrin Potthoff Sapia, was particularly difficult due to the ten different types of marble that compose the body. Apparently, his figure is the result of an assembly of several parts: the part of the torso and legs is original, but probably attributable to a figure of Dafni, rather than Apollo. The tortoise and other typical attributes of this god were instead added around the 16th century.

The restoration was possible thanks to funding obtained from guided tours to the collection of marbles and to the new rooms of the museum, its storage and the Vasari Corridor.