Santa Croce and Science

Santa Croce is repository of the who's who of Italian dead people. It is an amazing cathedral not far from the river Arno, and we spent hours looking at the graves, wandering through the cloisters, and examining the many works of art on display from the likes of Donatello, Gadi, and Giotto.

All of the tourist literature name Michelangelo the most significant person interred in the cathedral. His elevated coffin and carved tomb was fitting indeed, and it was amazing to see it. But the truly most significant person in the cathedral is none other than Galileo Galilei, the pioneer of classical physics and mechanics, torch bearer of the Copernican revolution, and first modern astronomer. It was fantastic to be able to pay homage.

We also saw the tomb of Dante Alligheri, whose "Divine Comedy" is an all time classic. Not far from Dante was Machiavelli, yet another famous Florentine. The tombs and monuments of Marconi, inventor of the transistor radio, Enrico Fermi, discoverer of fermions, and the composer Rossini were also present.

Rounding this little visit to the remains of Galileo was a visit to the Museum of Science History. There we saw many of the original instruments of Galileo himself, along with three stories of displays on science and technology, with special focus on Florentine and Italian contributions. On display were original Leyden jars, tools of Alessandra Volta, numerous other scientists, but most famously the compass and telescope of Galileo. The original objective lens from his telescope was on display also. I can now say I have gazed through the lens with which the moons of Jupiter and rings of Saturn were discovered. The most Galileo centered component of the exhibition was a piece of Galileo himself- his preserved finger on display in a jar for the world to see.