Milan bull mosaic restoration sparks mockery over missing testicles

The restoration of the 19th-century Rampant Bull mosaic in Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II has been ridiculed after the bull's testicles were apparently erased. The mosaic, symbol of Turin, required repairs due to a crater formed by tourists performing a heel-spinning ritual on the pink tesserae. The ritual, believed to bring prosperity or a return visit to Milan, was reportedly performed by George and Amal Clooney. The restored mosaic was unveiled on Monday, but visitors cannot find the testicles. Milan councillor Marco Granelli shared a photo on Facebook, prompting mockery and criticism, with comments like "Something's missing" and "What happened to the testicles?" Some accused the city council of censorship and wasting public money—the restoration cost €30,000. Others noted messy tiles. Granelli called the arcade "a living heritage site which can wear out easily." The arcade, built 1865–1877 near the Duomo, is one of the world's oldest shopping arcades. Similar tourist wear affected Verona's Juliet statue, restored twice after disfigurement from a luck-in-love ritual.