In Italy, a unique mosaic damaged by a strange tourist ritual is being repaired
In Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, restoration has begun on the famous mosaic depicting the Turin bull, which was damaged by tourists trying to attract "luck," writes the BBC.
According to superstition, to attract luck, a visitor must close their eyes and turn three times on their heels, standing on the "place of power" — on the image of the bull's genitals.
Tourists seeking luck have already worn a whole pit into the "lucky spot," completely erasing the mosaic.
"Thousands of people perform the famous ritual daily, spinning on their heels," explained representatives of the city authorities.
They noted that the pink tiles depicting the bull's genitals are completely worn away.
On the floor of the central octagonal hall of the gallery, built in the second half of the 19th century, there are mosaics depicting the coats of arms of the four main cities of the Kingdom of Italy: Rome (she-wolf), Milan (red cross), Florence (lily), and Turin (bull).
Now, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping gallery is one of Milan's tourist attractions. It is open to visitors 24 hours a day. It houses shops of many fashion brands and restaurants, and also hosts exhibitions and concerts.
Restoration of the mosaic depicting the coat of arms of Turin began this week: the image of the bull has been fenced off. Restorers are working to return the artwork to its former glory, according to a statement from the Milan City Council.
The photograph shows master Gianluca Galli kneeling before the mosaic, manually carving new stone fragments.
Observers gather around him, currently deprived of the opportunity to perform the "good luck" ritual.
The ritual of attracting "luck" using the mosaic became popular among Milan residents back in the 19th century.
"This is probably a touching tradition, but quite harmful to the artwork," says Gianluca Galli.
The tile wears out relatively quickly: the last restoration of the bull mosaic was carried out in 2017, said city council members Emanuele Conte and Marco Granelli.
"The Gallery is a living heritage that can be destroyed precisely because it is loved and actively used: we take care of it so that it remains as it was created," they added.
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