The L.O.V.E. sculpture by Maurizio Cattelan was originally intended as a temporary installation but was permanently gifted to the city of Milan.
The middle finger of the L.O.V.E. statue is positioned to point directly at the facade of the Borsa Italiana building.
The statue's title is an acronym for Libertà, Odio, Vendetta, Eternità (Liberty, Hate, Vengeance, Eternity).
Palazzo Mezzanotte was constructed on the former site of the Palazzo Turati and an ancient Roman theater, with structural remains found during excavations.
The building's interior houses the 'Sala delle Grida,' or 'Scream Room,' where stockbrokers traditionally shouted out their orders before electronic trading took over.
The Palazzo Mezzanotte facade is adorned with allegorical sculptures representing commerce and industry.
Piazza degli Affari is the historic center of Italian finance, housing the Palazzo Mezzanotte, which serves as the headquarters for the Borsa Italiana. Designed by architect Paolo Mezzanotte and inaugurated in 1932, the building features a monumental rationalist facade made of Botticino marble. The square is dominated by Maurizio Cattelan’s controversial 2010 sculpture, L.O.V.E., commonly known as 'Il Dito,' which depicts a giant marble hand with all fingers severed except for the middle one. The piazza sits on the site of the ancient Roman theater of Mediolanum, remains of which are occasionally visible or referenced in local archaeological studies. The surrounding architecture reflects the transition between the late 19th-century eclecticism and the strict functionality of the Fascist-era monumentalism. The space operates as a public thoroughfare despite its high-security institutional surroundings.
Position your camera low at the base of the L.O.V.E. sculpture to frame the hand against the grand, symmetrical facade of Palazzo Mezzanotte.
Visit during the weekday lunch hour to see the contrast between the stoic, serious business crowd and the provocative art piece.
Look closely at the base of the L.O.V.E. statue to read the dates of the Fascist-era monuments that inspired its form.
Walk the perimeter of the piazza to find hidden historical plaques detailing the Roman origins of the soil beneath.
Avoid expecting a traditional park environment; this is a dense urban space with limited seating.
Maintain a respectful tone near the stock exchange entrance; the area is a high-security professional zone.
