Chimney Sweep

Fifteen statues and sculptures world wide that it is mentioned will convey success if touched

  • A roundup of some of the happiest places in the world, from Europe to Australia
  • Visit the President's Nose and the Sewer Worker's Helmet, which bring good luck
  • See the boar's mouth and the chimney sweep's hat, which are said to grant wishes

They say fortune favors the brave.

But it is also said that luck favors anyone who touches one of these statues and sculptures, from Dalida's breasts to Lincoln's nose.

Kiskiralylany aka The Little Princess, Budapest, Hungary

Kiskiralylany, also known as the Little Princess, sits on the railing of the tram tracks near the Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest

The little princess sits on the railing of the tram tracks near the Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest.

She is the creation of sculptor László Marton, who was inspired by his daughter's penchant for dressing up as a princess, using her bathrobe as a cape and a crown made of newspaper.

Since the statue was erected in the 1990s, it has become a tradition for passers-by to rub its knees for good luck.

Cumil, the sewer worker, Bratislava, Slovakia

The statue of the sewer worker Cumil is located on the corner of Laurinská and Panská streets in the Old Town of Bratislava.

You will find Cumil emerging from a manhole cover on the corner of Laurinská and Panská streets in Bratislava's Old Town with a cheeky smile on his face.

The statue was installed in the sidewalk in 1997 as part of a redevelopment project, and there is disagreement among locals as to whether Cumil is taking a break from work or looking up women's skirts.

According to local legend, if you touch the top of his hat, your wishes will come true.

Il Porcellino, Florence, Italy

Il Porcellino – which means “piglet” – is located in Florence, a two-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio. Tourists can throw coins into its mouth to make a wish.

Outside the Mercato del Porcellino, a two-minute walk from the Florentine bridge Ponte Vecchio, stands the decorative, partially hollowed-out piglet sculpture “Il Porcellino”.

Visitors can put coins in his mouth and make a wish, which then collect in his stomach.

However, the wish ritual is not complete without rubbing the boar's nose afterwards.

The Monument to the Chimney Sweep, Lviv, Ukraine

The monument to the chimney sweep is located on the roof of the House of Legends cafe in Lviv, Ukraine

The decorative chimney sweep monument in Lviv challenges visitors to make their wishes come true. First, they must climb to the top floor of the House of Legends cafe.

Once on the roof, they have to climb another spiral staircase before they get the chance to throw a coin into the hat for good luck.

Most people miss something, and visitors on the roof below are sometimes surprised by a shower of Ukrainian hryvnia when they try to climb up to make a wish.

Monument to Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Lviv, Ukraine

The monument to Leopold von Sacher-Masoch is located in front of the S&M Café Masoch in the Old Town of Lviv

Leopold von Sacher-Masoch is considered the founder of the S&M movement and his statue stands in front of the Masoch cocktail bar on Serbska Street in the old town of Lviv.

Visitors can put their hand in his pocket and wish for luck. But be careful, the pocket is not empty… You will be touching the statue's “private parts”.

After expressing their wish, most visitors head to the SM bar Masoch. Don't worry, the SM part is a gimmick to entertain the tourists and is not meant to be taken seriously.

Some visitors order a little “light whipping” from the barmaid with their cocktails, but that’s just a bit of fun.

The statue of Dalida, Paris, France

The bust of Dalida is located on Place Dalida in the Paris district of Montmartre and is a monument to the French singer.

The bust of Dalida is located on Place Dalida in the Paris district of Montmartre and is a memorial to the French singer and actress Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, who was known by her stage name Dalida.

She sold over 170 million albums and singles worldwide and was a darling of the city of Paris.

She committed suicide in 1987 and the statue was erected on the 10th anniversary of her death.

According to tradition, touching her breasts brings good luck.

Abraham Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois

Lincoln's lucky nose is located directly in front of Abraham Lincoln's grave at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Illinois

A bust of Lincoln stands in front of Abraham Lincoln's grave at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Illinois.

The president's distinctive nose shines gold thanks to years of rubbing by visitors.

Some locals say that rubbing the nose brings good luck, while others say it brings wisdom.

Fala, Washington DC, USA

The statue of the terrier Fala on the grounds of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington DC is said to have a lucky nose and ears

The Scottish Terrier Fala was the dog of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

A life-size statue of Fala stands faithfully at the feet of his master in the massive Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC

Some say rubbing its nose brings good luck, others say it's the ears that bring good luck. Rub both to be on the safe side.

Marin Držić, Dubrovnik, Croatia

The statue of Marin Držić with her lucky nose is located opposite the Church of St. Blaise in the Old Town of Dubrovnik

Marin Držić was a Croatian writer who is now affectionately known as Dubrovnik’s Shakespeare.

A statue of him stands opposite St. Blaise's Church, near the Rector's Palace in the red-roofed Old Town of Dubrovnik.

According to local legend, rubbing your nose will bring you good luck.

Bremen Town Musicians, Riga, Latvia

The statue of the Bremen Town Musicians is located in Skārņu Street between St. Peter's Church and the Monastery Courtyard in Riga.

Why the statue of the Bremen Town Musicians is called that is not immediately clear. The statue shows a rooster sitting on a cat, which is standing on a dog, which is balancing on a donkey.

The statue was inspired by the Brothers Grimm fable, which tells the story of four mistreated animals who ran away to become musicians. The sculptor wanted the statue to have a political undertone.

It is considered a good luck charm to rub the nose or beak of each of the four musicians.

The statue is located in Skārņu Street between St. Peter's Church and the monastery courtyard.

John Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

The boot of the John Harvard statue at Harvard University is said to bring good luck if rubbed

Rabbit's feet are not the only lucky feet in the world. At Harvard University there is a statue of its namesake and co-founder, the English clergyman and scholar John Harvard, who is said to have a lucky left foot.

Students rub his boot to have luck in exams.

The statue is located in Harvard Yard, probably the oldest part of the elite university.

The Knight of Paris, also known as Monument to the Street Man, Havana, Cuba

El Caballero de Paris, also known as Monument to the Homeless Man, is located in Old Havana, Cuba

If you visit Old Havana during rush hour, you can easily miss the Monument to the Street Man.

This bronze statue of a walking man gets lost in the crowds of tourists, performance artists and street vendors selling things like ice cream in coconut shells.

The statue itself is said to be inspired by a man named José María López Lledín, also known as the Gentleman of Paris, who was a common sight on the streets of Havana in the late 20th century.

The myth says that if you touch his beard and make a wish, your wish will come true.

A replica of Queen Victoria's terrier Islay sits on a wishing well

Islay, Sydney, Australia

This 60 centimetre high bronze statue is a replica of Queen Victoria's Cairn Terrier Islay and is located on a sandstone wishing well in front of the Queen Victoria Building on George Street in Sydney.

What sets this statue apart from others in the world is that it speaks. Periodically, a recording of the dog asking for money is played over nearby speakers.

Those who donate should be rewarded with the fulfillment of a wish.

The Piglet, Sydney, Australia

The statue of Il Porcellino in front of Sydney Hospital is a replica of the Wishing Statue in Florence, Italy

This is a replica of the statue and wishing well of the same name in Florence.

It is located outside Sydney Hospital, opposite Macquarie Street.

Just like his doppelganger in Italy, he eats coins given to him by visitors who make wishes. The money goes to the hospital.

John of Nepomuk, Prague, Czech Republic

The statue of John of Nepomuk on the Charles Bridge with its lucky tablets

There is a phalanx of statues on either side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, but because of the crowds of tourists and the street art and souvenir stalls, it is not always easy to see them clearly.

There is one thing you shouldn't miss, however: The statue of John of Nepomuk is the eighth statue on the right as you walk from the Old Town towards Prague Castle.

It marks the spot where Saint John of Nepomuk was thrown from the bridge and murdered on the orders of the king in the 14th century.

While the location of the statue was anything but fortunate for the unfortunate saint, this spot is now said to represent the end of a rainbow for visitors.

Touch the tablet on the right side of the statue, make a wish and your wish should come true.

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