Milan gives bull mosaic testicles worn down by spinning tourists some TLC
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- A famous bull mosaic in Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is undergoing restoration due to wear caused by tourists performing a traditional ritual involving grinding their heels on the bull's testicles and spinning three times for good luck.
- The mosaic, representing the city of Turin, has seen its pink tiles worn down from thousands of daily heel-spinning gestures, prompting city officials to initiate repairs.
- Artisan Gianluca Galli is manually cutting new stone pieces to restore the artwork, highlighting the damage caused by the popular but harmful tradition.
- Milan city councillors emphasized the importance of preserving the living heritage of the Galleria, noting the last restoration took place in 2017 and expressing commitment to maintaining the site for future visitors.