Porcellino Fountain

The Porcellino Fountain, in Florence

The Porcellino Fountain is a famous bronze fountain in the shape of a boar, at the market of the centre of Florence. The Florence audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this popular lucky charm, of which tradition has it that you stroke the snout to one day return to the town.

The bronze boar lucky charm

Although it represents a boar, this fountain is affectionately called the Porcellino Fountain, the little pig in Italian. It is located under the loggia of the Mercato Nuovo, the covered market of the centre of Florence. The bronze sculpture that you see is a copy of the one that was made in the seventeenth century to decorate the Pitti Palace, itself inspired by an ancient marble statue. The fountain is above all famous for the lucky tradition attached to it: according to the custom, you must stroke the snout of the boar, already all shiny and polished by the hands of the visitors, then drop a coin in its mouth, letting it fall into the grate below. If the coin falls through the grate, the wish will be granted and you are assured of returning one day to Florence. A place of tradition and a likeable curiosity, the Porcellino Fountain is a charming stop of the discovery of Florence.

What to see

You admire the famous bronze fountain in the shape of a boar, the Porcellino, under the loggia of the Mercato Nuovo, a copy of a seventeenth-century work inspired by an ancient statue, and you perpetuate the lucky tradition by stroking its polished snout and dropping a coin to ensure returning to Florence. The Porcellino Fountain is a likeable curiosity of Florence. It is a charming stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Porcellino Fountain lies under the loggia of the Mercato Nuovo, in the heart of Florence, reachable on foot. It is an open-air fountain, freely accessible; the surrounding market has its own hours. You discover it during a walk in the centre.

What is the tradition of the Porcellino Fountain in Florence?

The custom has it that you stroke the snout of the bronze boar, then drop a coin in its mouth, letting it fall into the grate; if it falls through, the wish is granted and you are assured of returning one day to Florence.

Where is the Porcellino Fountain of Florence?

Under the loggia of the Mercato Nuovo, in the heart of Florence, in Italy.