A sculpted bronze wild boar fountain called Il Porcellino, dating back to 1634, is located outside the Mercato Nuovo. Visitors place a coin in his mouth and rub his snout. If the coin is washed out of his mouth and into the fountain, it means good luck and ensures a return trip to Florence. If the coin is not washed out…
Hans Christian Anderson's 1846 fable "The Bronze Hog" is about a boy who falls asleep on this very statue which suddenly comes to life and takes him through the streets of Florence.
The statue is also seen in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as Harry Potter and Ron Weasley climb the Hogwarts staircase after crashing into the Whomping Willow. It reappears during the flashback scene where Tom Riddle speaks to Albus Dumbledore.