MILAN — The Rampant Bull mosaic in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was restored and reopened to the public on a Monday, but the work drew criticism after the bull’s testicles were no longer clearly visible. The 19th-century floor mosaic, which depicts a prancing bull as the symbol of Turin—Italy’s capital at the time—had suffered damage from a popular tourist ritual.
For years, visitors have placed their right heel on the pink tesserae representing the bull’s testicles and spun around three times, following a local legend that the act brings prosperity or ensures a return to Milan. The repeated spinning created a small crater in that section of the mosaic. Restorer Gianluca Galli, who cut new pieces of stone by hand for the repair, told Agence France-Presse, “It's probably a charming gesture, but also quite damaging for a work of art.”
After the restoration, the pink tesserae that previously depicted the bull’s testicles were no longer clearly visible, leading to public criticism and mockery. Commenters on a Facebook post by Milan councillor Marco Granelli—who praised the restoration—questioned the change. One asked, “What happened to the testicles?” while another remarked, “Something’s missing.”
Some questioned whether the alteration was intentional, suggesting it might discourage the heel-spinning ritual. Milan’s city council faced accusations of censorship and wasting public funds, with the project reportedly costing €30,000 (£26,000). Councillors Emmanuel Conte and Marco Granelli stated, “The Galleria is a living heritage, which can wear away precisely because it is loved and experienced: we take care of it so that it continues to be so.” Granelli separately told AFP that the arcade was “a living heritage site which can wear out easily precisely because it is loved and frequented.”
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, built between 1865 and 1877 near Milan’s Duomo, is among the world’s oldest shopping arcades. The bull mosaic was last restored in 2017, according to city officials.