The famous Milanese bull mosaic, located beneath the dome of the 19th-century Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II near the Milan Cathedral (Duomo), has officially been sent for “treatment.” City authorities confirmed that the constant flow of tourists has literally destroyed parts of the historic floor, according to The Guardian.
“Due to the endless spinning rituals performed by visitors to Milan on their heels, the pink mosaic tiles (tesserae) forming the bull’s testicles have been completely worn down, creating a small depression,” the city’s official statement said.
The mosaic, rendered in beige tones, is part of the coat of arms of Turin (which was the capital of a unified Italy at the time the gallery was built).
Restorer Gianluca Galli began meticulous conservation work this Thursday in full view of surprised tourists strolling past the windows of the historic Prada boutique.
“Perhaps for some it is a cute, romantic gesture, but for the artwork it is extremely destructive,” Galli noted, commenting on the popular superstition.
The craftsman is hand-cutting new stone pieces based on archival drawings from the period and a mold taken from the remaining original fragments. To ensure greater durability against the pressure of hundreds of thousands of tourist footsteps, modern materials are being used: instead of historical lime mortar, the new tesserae will be set in high-strength epoxy resin and a special sand-based compound.
While restoration work on the bull made spinning physically impossible, resourceful tourists quickly adapted. They began performing the same ritual on a nearby mosaic depicting the Capitoline she-wolf.
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