A floor mosaic of a bull in Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is undergoing restoration after being worn down by tourists performing a traditional heel-grinding ritual on its testicles. The tradition, which locals believe guarantees a return to the city, has caused a small crater in the pink tesserae.
The 19th-century artwork, which represents Turin, the former capital of Italy, is part of the arcade's flooring near the Duomo cathedral. Restorer Gianluca Galli worked on the mosaic on Thursday, cutting stone pieces by hand and using epoxy resins and sand mortar to better withstand tourists' heels.
During the restoration, tourists unable to pirouette on the bull instead performed the act on a neighbouring she-wolf mosaic representing Rome. The bull was last restored in 2017.
Milan city councillors Emmanuel Conte and Marco Granelli described the arcade as a 'living heritage site' that wears out because it is loved and frequented. Galli expressed pride in his work and encouraged young people to take up restoration, noting Italy's need for restorers.
