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Milan Restores "Bull's Lucky Testicles" Damaged by Tourist Rituals

Milan Restores "Bull's Lucky Testicles" Damaged by Tourist Rituals

Thairath•International•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Milan is undertaking a meticulous restoration of a mosaic bull's damaged testicles, a century-old tourist attraction worn down by a ritualistic heel-twisting tradition for good fortune.

  • •Milan is restoring a famous mosaic bull's testicles that have been worn down into a hole by tourists performing a good luck ritual.
  • •The ritual involves tourists twisting their heels three times on the bull's testicles for good luck and to wish for a return to Milan.
  • •The mosaic, located in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, is a symbol representing Turin and a key tourist attraction dating back to the 19th century.
  • •The restoration is using hand-cut stone and epoxy resin for durability, and the damaged section was last repaired in 2017.

Overview

  • •The mosaic bull, a symbol of Turin, has been a tourist attraction since the 19th century, based on local folklore for good luck.
  • •For centuries, tourists have performed a ritual by twisting their heels on the bull's mosaic testicles for good fortune and to ensure a return to Milan.
  • •The constant ritualistic heel-twisting by thousands of daily visitors has caused the mosaic pieces of the bull's testicles to become worn down and form a deep depression.
  • •The mosaic bull's testicles were previously restored in 2017.
  • •Milan city officials initiated a restoration project on the mosaic bull's testicles during the current week.
  • •Artisan Luca Galli is undertaking the restoration, cutting new stone by hand and using epoxy resin for increased durability.
  • •During the repair of the bull mosaic, some tourists have resorted to performing the same heel-twisting ritual on a mosaic wolf, a symbol of Rome, in a nearby area.
  • •Milan Deputy Mayors Emmanuele Conte and Marco Granelli emphasized the importance of preserving the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II as a "living heritage" that can wear down due to its popularity and constant visitation.

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Key Quotes

Marco Granelli
"“Due to thousands of people performing this heel-twisting ritual daily, the pink mosaic pieces forming the bull's testicles have been crushed, worn down, and sunken into small depressions.”"
“เนื่องจากในแต่ละวันมีผู้คนนับพันทำท่าหมุนส้นเท้าดังกล่าว ส่งผลให้ชิ้นส่วนโมเสกสีชมพูที่ประกอบขึ้นเป็นส่วนอัณฑะของวัวกระทิงถูกบดขยี้จนสึกหรอและยุบตัวลงไปกลายเป็นแอ่งหลุมขนาดเล็ก”
Marco Granelli
"“This gallery is a living heritage that can wear down over time because it is loved and visited incessantly; our duty is to preserve it.”"
“กัลเลเรียแห่งนี้คือมรดกที่มีชีวิต ซึ่งสามารถสึกหรอได้ตามกาลเวลาเพราะมันเป็นที่รักและมีผู้คนมาเยือนอย่างไม่ขาดสาย ซึ่งหน้าที่ของเราคือการดูแลรักษามันไว้”

Key Entities

Place

Milan(มิลาน)ℹ️
Italian city undertaking the restoration of a famous mosaic.
Bull(วัวกระทิง)
Mosaic symbol in Milan representing the city of Turin.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II(กัลเลเรีย วิตตอริโอ เอมานูเอเล 2)ℹ️
Historic luxury shopping arcade in Milan where the mosaic bull is located.
Turin(ตูริน)ℹ️
Italian city whose symbol is represented by the mosaic bull in Milan.
Rome(กรุงโรม)ℹ️
The city whose symbol (a wolf mosaic) became a temporary substitute for the bull mosaic ritual.
Wolf(หมาป่า)
Mosaic symbol of Rome that tourists turned to for their good luck ritual while the bull mosaic was under repair.

Context

19th Century(ศตวรรษที่ 19)
The historical period from which the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II originates and when the "bull's lucky testicles" folklore began.
Epoxy Resin(อีพ็อกซีเรซิน)
The material chosen for the mosaic repair to enhance durability against foot traffic.

Person

Emmanuele Conte(เอ็มมานูเอล คอนเต)
Deputy Mayor of Milan who commented on the restoration and the gallery's significance.
Marco Granelli(มาร์โก กราเนลลี)
Deputy Mayor of Milan who commented on the restoration and the gallery's significance.
Luca Galli(ยานลูกา กัลลี)
The artisan responsible for the current restoration of the mosaic bull's testicles.

Timeline

2017
The year the mosaic bull was last restored before the current repairs.