This post contains affiliate links which means that we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through a link at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
The Bronze Pig | Florence, Italy
The Bronze Pig Fountain or Il Porcellino, as the Italians call him, means “the little pig.” He is located to the side of the Mercato Nuovo in Florence, Italy. This statue, however, is really of a wild boar, or cinghiale in Italian.
Mercato Nuovo
He supposedly brings good luck when visitors rub his snout (hence the shiny part) and slides a coin from his mouth. The water washes the coin from the pig’s mouth and if it falls into the grate below, you will have good luck and you will be sure to return to Florence. I was happy when on my first try the coin went right through the grate. Gary had to try a few times but no harm in trying more than once. The coins are used to support a local orphanage.
The bronze statue we see today is a copy of a Roman marble statue which was a gift from the Pope to the Medici in the 1560s. The statue we see today is a 20th-century copy installed when the 1634 bronze statue was moved into a museum because his nose was wearing thin.
The Legend
There is a legend regarding the bronze boar. It is quite involved with a woman who could not have children and her husband blamed her. She made a wish on a herd of wild pigs that passed by their home and a fairy who happened to hear her granted her wish. The child that was born looked more like a “pig creature” than a little boy. But the husband and wife loved him anyway. Who knows if the legend is true?
In Conclusion
What I do know is that there are always tourists rubbing his nose and putting a coin in his mouth. Everyone takes a picture with the bronze boar; even us.
Most Noteworthy
Around the world, there are copies of this little pig. You will find there are four in the UK, and twelve in the United States, and they are also found in Australia, Denmark, Canada, France, Germany, Norway, Monaco, Spain, and Sweden.
This is our memoir and personal adventure, which has changed our lives forever. Our Italian Journey is a compelling read for anyone who wants to experience and appreciate daily life in Italy and to understand its charm, appeal, and cultural differences. Join in the laughter as we also divulge the trials and tribulations we encountered along the way.
No Comments