Porcellino – Symbolic piglet that brings good luck (12 photos + 2 videos)
The bronze snout of this magnificent boar has been rubbed to a golden shine by visitors seeking to catch their luck by the tail. 
Originally created in 1634, Il Porcellino is a bronze fountain decoration that "eats" the coins of visitors who come to ask for good luck. 
When the coins run out, the supplicant rubs the animal's snout to secure the result. This tradition has become so popular that there are now dozens of copies and replicas of this wild pig all over the world. 
Created by Baroque master Pietro Tacca, the bronze beast was created as a result of the action of a marble boar dating back to the Hellenistic period, probably representing the mythical Calydonian boar. Tacca's boar was originally created to decorate a fountain in the famous Boboli Gardens, but was eventually installed on a fountain near the Mercato Nuovo (New Bridge Market) in Florence. 
This place is a popular stop for tourists who want to see this unique symbol of the city. The statue is partially hollow, allowing visitors to slip coins between the boar's jaws for good luck. However, the creators did not take into account the desire of people to rub the boar's snout, which led to the appearance of a shiny golden snout. 
The original figure was moved to the Bargello National Museum for safekeeping in 1998 and replaced with a similar bronze replica. In addition to the replica in its original location, Il Porcellino's have since appeared in locations ranging from Sydney to the University of Arkansas. 
The name "Porcellino" is translated from Italian as "little pig" or "piglet" and fully corresponds to the playfulness of the statue, which has become an integral part of Florentine culture and a symbol of the city. This magical boar was too beloved by people to remain forever in one place and in a single copy. 
Copy in Sydney 
Copy in Munich 
Copy on the University of Waterloo campus
