A bronze‑colored bull that graces the central floor of Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II has begun a restoration project after the image of its male genitalia was repeatedly hit by visitors who perform a tongue‑in‑cheek lottery ritual. While tourists spin three times and grind their heels on the bull’s “little” typically sweet‑rosy tiles to secure good fortune, hundreds of travellers each day have eroded the tiny details, doctors A.M. Conte and Marco Granelli say.
The Galleria, a 19th‑century shopping arcade that hosts Italy’s national deer‑like coat of arms, is a vital piece of civic heritage, part of Italy’s first capital, Turin. The mosaic, which depicts a prancing bull set against a beige and blue background, has served the public as a cultural crossroads of the city.
On 27 May the city announced that a small construction‑site is currently inside the bench, with specialist restorer Gianluca Galli taking care of hand‑cut stone replacements. The vibration‑driven restoration work is intended to hold up the bull’s old plates for decades to come. Galli was filmed in a kneeling posture, carefully moulding new tiles while a crowd collected to watch.
According to Galli, “the ritual is charming, but it damages the artwork.” City councillors held the same view, explaining that the Galleria is ‘a living heritage that can wear out precisely because people value it’. They also noted that the last major repair was undertaken in 2017.
The restoration is a testament to Italy’s commitment to preserving historic public art while honouring whimsical local traditions and giving the city a fresh opportunity to attract new visitors.
Further reading:
- Church fresco resembling Italian PM has face scrubbed out – BBC News
- Hotel that refused to give tourist tap water acted lawfully, Italian court rules – BBC News
The Galleria, a 19th‑century shopping arcade that hosts Italy’s national deer‑like coat of arms, is a vital piece of civic heritage, part of Italy’s first capital, Turin. The mosaic, which depicts a prancing bull set against a beige and blue background, has served the public as a cultural crossroads of the city.
On 27 May the city announced that a small construction‑site is currently inside the bench, with specialist restorer Gianluca Galli taking care of hand‑cut stone replacements. The vibration‑driven restoration work is intended to hold up the bull’s old plates for decades to come. Galli was filmed in a kneeling posture, carefully moulding new tiles while a crowd collected to watch.
According to Galli, “the ritual is charming, but it damages the artwork.” City councillors held the same view, explaining that the Galleria is ‘a living heritage that can wear out precisely because people value it’. They also noted that the last major repair was undertaken in 2017.
The restoration is a testament to Italy’s commitment to preserving historic public art while honouring whimsical local traditions and giving the city a fresh opportunity to attract new visitors.
Further reading:
- Church fresco resembling Italian PM has face scrubbed out – BBC News
- Hotel that refused to give tourist tap water acted lawfully, Italian court rules – BBC News
