The fulcrum of Rome's busiest square was operated by a woman for the first time on Monday as Piazza Venezia's famous traffic-cop pedestal resurfaced in burnished glory.
A couple of female cops took it in turns to go through the elegant white-gloved mime that has made the performing officers a tourist attraction in their own right and appeared in several popular films.
The pair, Alessia and Alessandra, are the latest recruits to a 12-strong force of volunteers for one of the hardest jobs in car traffic control.
''Your head spins a bit at the start,'' Alessia told reporters.
''It was hard to get through to the drivers, although I suppose they were a little taken aback to see a woman in front of them,'' said Alessandra.
But both agreed that the experience had been ''a big thrill''.
The round concrete pedestal on which the dapper 'vigili' stand to direct traffic has been there since 1898.
But as traffic got busier and drivers more careless, it got increasingly bashed, especially at quiet times when it wasn't manned.
So two years ago a high-tech 'periscope' version was unveiled, lifted up on hydraulic pistons only when the officers had to go on duty.
Traffic police were thrilled by the technological advance which permitted the tradition of Rome's last remaining pedestal to continue.
But car and bus rumblings across the cobble-stoned square gradually took their toll and the system had to be repaired last September.
After seven months of work the pedestal rose up majestically again on the stroke of noon Monday and the two officers took up their posts.
Like the other volunteers, they have a mandatory limit of just 12 minutes on the dizzy little perch.
'REPRESENTING ROME TO THE WORLD'.
Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno praised the latest traffic 'conductors', saying they were tasked with ''representing Rome's image across the whole world''.
He called the pedestal ''a symbol that sends an important message,'' that even in Rome's chaotic traffic swirl, ''you have to play by the rules''.
The podium is controlled from the police station which looks onto the piazza, the traffic hub of central Rome.
It has featured in several films, including Il Vigile starring late Italian comic actor Alberto Sordi as a traffic cop who caused havoc with his confused signals to cars.
Tourists frequently stop to photograph the officers conducting traffic like an orchestra, or even to stand on it themselves to be snapped pretending to do the same thing.
As well as the 'belly button', the pedestal has also been nicknamed the 'disappearing doughnut' - a culinary reference in keeping with the 'wedding cake' tag for the massive Victor Emmanuel Monument that dominates the square.
But though Romans may make fun of it, traffic officials are very proud of their hub.
''It's the most visible position in Rome,'' said Angelo Giuliani, the head of Rome's traffic police.
''And I can say with the greatest satisfaction that it has been admirably filled by women, an important step forward''.
Alessandra and Alessia took the praise in their stride and promised they'd be just as strict as their male colleagues.
''The drivers can wheedle all they want but we won't give in to anyone,'' they said.
