If you were asked to find the link between the Porcellino fountain in Florence’s Mercato Nuovo square and the David in Signoria square; you’d be forgiven for thinking there wasn’t one. But despite the seeming disparities, these Renaissance monuments have more in common than first meets the eye.
Both the Porcellino and David are copies of their more famous counterparts, with Michelangelo’s actual David located in the Accademia Gallery and the original Porcellino in the Bardini Museum.
The Porcellino is a bronze fountain by Pietro Tacca, an apprentice at Giambologna’s workshop, completed in the first half of the XVII century and commissioned by Cosimo II de’ Medici. Despite the name – which means piglet in English – the fountain is made in the likeness of a boar.
The fountain’s location in the city center can be traced back to practicality. The loggia was home to the local textile market and a place where merchants would regularly buy and sell their products, so it made sense to have a fountain nearby where they could drink and wash themselves in clean water.
According to Florentine folklore, it is good luck to touch the nose of the boar. However, your fortunes will have a better chance of improving if you also complete the second part of this ritual.
When you visit the statue, touch the nose of the boar holding a coin in hand and then let it fall down. If the coin passes through the fountain grate, it’s a good omen.
If possible, try to be generous. Heavier coins have a reputation for passing through the grate more easily, which means your luck will almost definitely improve.
Travel tip:
Just in case your lucky-coin attempts fail, you can take comfort in the chocolate shop, Venchi, located in the same square. After one taste of their delicious chocolates and ice creams, you will be the right frame of mind to quickly forget about any so-called “bad luck”!
Or, if you prefer, you can have your seat (and your chocolate), at the Rivoire Café, a very special place in Piazza della Signoria, a few steps far from there.