Il Porcellino, Florence

The Mercato Nuovo is located in the Piazza Della Republica area. The market has been here since the 11th century. It is a comparatively small market that sells cheap souvenirs, leather goods, and t-shirts.

Just outside the stalls to the south is a statue of a boar that is known as il Porcellino. Legend is that if you rub his snout and put a coin in his mouth, you’ll return to Florence. Yes, of course we did it! (The coins are distributed to city charities.)

You can see Il Porcellino anytime.

Market Hours:

2nd Sunday in March to 1st Sunday in November - daily 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Monday following 1st Sunday in November to Saturday before 2nd Sunday in March - Tuesday through Sunday 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Please note that all visitor information is correct as of this writing.

And why not? I was a tourist in Florence, I liked it there and there really wasn't enough time for everything I wanted to see, so I knew I had to come back. So why not do a touristic thing as a sort of extra "make-sure-to-come-back" insurance?
The wild boar is sitting in the center of Florence, at the Mercato Nuovo. Tourists are supposed to stroke its nose if they wish to come back to Florence.I did the same and it was one of the few times I had to wait in line!
Small wonder that the nose is so much brighter than the rest of the boar.

The Porcellino's area is a place to visit 'couse it's in the center of the city and you can also find a little merchant area that is ever interesting(pay attentin to gipsy).You have to touch the nose of the "porcellino".The legend says that it'll give you good luck.Another thing to do is to put a coin directly in the mouth of the porcellino,and think to a desire;when the coin falls down,if it enters in the gate,your desire will happen.It's not so easy but here in Florence nothing is easy at all;-)

This statue is in Mercato Nuovo. It is very close to Piazza Della Signoria. We are rubbing the nose of Il Porcellino in the picture. The legend says that if we do so we can come back to Florence again. I think it’s worth to try. Many people thought the same so the nose of Il Porcellino is shining now.
I will inform you if I’ll return to Florence.

This is the famous Porcellino. I searched all Florence for it! It's was so strange that when we asked directions to florence residence didn't know what was this Porcellino! It is supposed to be famous there! At last we asked to a market vendor and he told us that we where in the spot! Of course we were! It was on one side of the square market (when this gentleman worked)! hehe So it's better for you to ask where is "Il Mercato Nuovo" first!

Here I am at last putting the 'moneta' inside his mouth and letting it fall from his tongue for good luck! :)) Rubbing his nose is for good luck as well or to come back in Florence.

I have seen this bronze bull statue in any number of movies and wanted to find it when I went to Florence. My most recent memory of this bull was from the movie Hannibal. Hannibal Lector washes the blood off of this hands in this found after murdering one of his victims. Here I am rubbing the snout for good look. You can see how shiney the snout if from everyone rubbing it. All of Hannibals blood stains were gone!

Take them to the Boar.

Il Porcellino in Piazza del Mercato

Very close to the Piazza della Signoria you will find a marketplace selling all sorts of leather goods. Here you will also find the statue of the wild boar, a symbol of Florence. There are slightly different versions of the legend (put a coin in the boar’s mouth and let it drop, or rub the nose...) Obviously a lot of people accept the “rub the nose” version. Both versions offer the same promise; if you do it, you will return to Florence someday. So do it!

Coincidentally, there was a replica of this bronze in the Strawbridge & Clothier department store in King of Prussia, PA. People used to rub its nose as well (Not sure why... to wish to come back to the mall someday?). That store has closed. Don’t know where that boar is now!

Actually it's a fountain but everybody knows that boar (wild pork) statue as a symbol of Florence. People believe that if you rub his nose you come back to Florence again as superstitious.