Milan city authorities have restored the testicles of a 19th-century bull mosaic that were worn down by tourists performing a local tradition [1].
The restoration highlights the ongoing tension between preserving historic art and the impact of mass tourism in Italy's most visited shopping arcades. The damage occurred in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a historic shopping arcade in Milan [2].
For years, visitors have followed a long-standing tradition of performing three spins [3] on the bull's testicles to attract good fortune. According to BBC News, the artwork is the center of a tradition that involves visitors performing three spins on it for good fortune [4].
This repeated physical contact has caused significant deterioration. A reporter for The Guardian said the bull's testicles had been worn down to the point of a crater by thousands of tourists [5]. The mosaic, which dates from the 19th century [1], requires periodic maintenance to survive the high volume of foot traffic.
Records indicate the mosaic was last restored in September 2017 [6]. The latest intervention, reported this week [7], aims to reverse the erosion caused by the spinning ritual. Nick Squires of The Telegraph said the delicate restoration will see the testicles returned to their original colour and detail [8].
City officials and restoration teams worked to ensure the structural integrity of the stone while maintaining its aesthetic value. The process involves careful cleaning, and the application of materials to fill the depressions left by thousands of passersby [5].
“The bull's testicles have been worn down to the point of a crater by thousands of tourists.”
The recurring need to restore the bull mosaic underscores the physical toll that 'experiential tourism' takes on urban heritage. When a specific ritual becomes a viral or traditional requirement for visitors, the resulting concentrated wear exceeds normal attrition, forcing city planners to balance cultural practice with the preservation of 19th-century infrastructure.
