‘What happened to the testicles?’: mockery in Milan over bull mosaic’s restoration | Italy
The restoration of a floor mosaic in Milan called the Rampant Bull was ridiculed after the works appeared to have erased a crucial anatomical detail: the testicles.
The 19th-century mosaic at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping mall needed to be renovated after a constant stream of heel-turning tourists left a small crater in the tiny pink tiles featuring bull testicles.
Legend has it that placing your right heel on the bull’s testicles and spinning around three times will bring prosperity, or at least a guaranteed return visit to Milan. George and Amal Clooney were reportedly among those who participated in the ritual in the months before the mosaic was repaired.
The restored bull, which represented the symbol of Turin, the capital of Italy, at the time it was built, was presented to the public again on Monday. However, visitors may have difficulty finding his testicles.
When Milanese councilor Marco Granelli complimented the work by sharing a photo of the restored mosaic on Facebook, the post was met with ridicule and criticism.
One commenter said, “Something’s missing,” while another asked, “What happened to the testicles?” he asked.
Others wrote that the bull now resembled a male ox – oxen are often castrated to inhibit testosterone – while others questioned whether the bull had been “castrated” to deter tourists from performing the ritual.
Milan city council was accused of “censorship” and waste of public money; The restoration reportedly cost €30,000 (£26,000).
One person pointed out other alleged flaws: “There are different colored tiles and it’s messy.”
Built between 1865 and 1977 and located near the Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the oldest shopping arcades in the world. Granelli told AFP last week that the arcade was “a living heritage site that can easily wear out because it is loved and frequently visited.”
Other beloved tourist attractions in Italy have been worn down by tourists performing rituals.
The bronze statue of William Shakespeare’s heroine Juliet in Verona has been restored twice after being disfigured. Tourists constantly touch it as part of a ritual believed to bring luck in love.
The statue stands below a balcony in a small courtyard where Romeo is said to have courted Juliet. The courtyard is next to the Casa di Giulietta, a renovated 13th-century building belonging to the del Cappellos, a noble family believed by locals to have inspired the fictional Juliet Capulet family in the Shakespeare classic.
