Torino's Bull at the Gallery (to be squeezed), Milan

  Torino's bull
by Mikebond
 
  • Torino's bull
      Torino's bull
    by Mikebond
  • dad turning on the bull
      dad turning on the bull
    by Mikebond
  • The famous bull
      The famous bull
    by muratkorman
  • The bull
      The bull
    by Joeplaboem
  • Yes your heel in the mddle
      Yes your heel in the mddle
    by Joeplaboem
 

7 Reviews of Torino's Bull at the Gallery (to be squeezed)

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Turn around its genitals!
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Mikebond 1075 reviews
Torino's bull
1 more image

This bull is depicted in the coat of arms of Torino. You see that there is a hole on its genitals and may wonder why. Well, a tradition says that if you put your right heel on this hole and turn on yourself three times, this will bring you good luck. In the second photo you see my father do it (unwillingly).
Hundreds of tourists rotate around the bull's genitals every day, that is why the mosaic needs a lot of maintenance.

Updated Aug 1, 2008

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... but bull 'sqeezing' is a fake tradition !!!
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Sidecarural 1 reviews

.. you will never see a 'milanese' squeezing the bull testicles!
Check it out: turists from all around the world queing to squeeze the bull, but not one single local.
This is simply a 'turist' tradition, reported on turist guides as a 'local secret tip'... which is simply not true.
And true locals (the 'milanesi') consider a bit 'pathetic' those naive turists doing the bull testicle squeezing exercise....

Ciao
Luciano (Milan)

Written Jun 7, 2008

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Need a full turn
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muratkorman 786 reviews
The famous bull

This famous bull mosaic located in Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele is said to make your wish come true if you make full turn over the balls with one foot. You can always catch some people making the famous turn over bull's balls. If you are there, give a try.

Written Oct 8, 2007

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Galleria Vittorio Emanuele good luck bull
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Diana75 1519 reviews
The Turin's bull
1 more image

Halfway down the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery are four floor mosaics representing Turin (the bull), Rome (the she-wolf and Romulus and Remus), Florence (the lily) and Milan (a red cross on a white background).

Out of these four mosaics, the most famous is the one of the bull due to a Milanese tradition that is saying that if you turn quickly 3 times on your heel over the bull's testicles you attract good luck.

A native told me that initially the story was talking about the bull's head, but, as now there is a deep depression in the floor on the bull's testicles, I think the head was not so successful after all.

Written May 26, 2006

Related to:
 Romantic Travel and Honeymoons
 Arts and Culture
 Road Trip

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Heel in the bull balls
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Joeplaboem 291 reviews
The bull
1 more image

In the middle of the Gallery you will find mosaics on the ground. On the left side with your back to the cathedral you will find the bull.
Put your heel in the bull's balls and make a full turn on your heel.
Locals will tell you your sex life and potential will be higher now.

Written Sep 15, 2005

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Squeeze the bull's balls
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tomerik 78 reviews
Group of Japanese tourists trying to turn 360��

In the Galleria de Emmanuel Vittorio next to the Duomo there is a picture of a bull on the ground. Place your heel on the bull's balls, turn 360° around once, without tripping, while you make a wish. If you manage this your wish will be fulfilled so they say.

Written Apr 26, 2005

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spinning on the bull's balls!
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Flamegirl 112 reviews
palle del toro, milano

There is a curious custom in Milan, if you are passing through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, that you should spin around on the testicles of the bull mosaic found in the centre. Legend has it that this will bring you good luck! Spot the tourists as they stand and watch and take pictures, whilst locals do it with casual style, simply swirling their foot on the required spot and continuing, as if nothing had happened...

Updated Jul 20, 2004

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Torino's Bull at the Gallery (to be squeezed)

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