Pisa is once again paying tribute to one of its most illustrious sons, Galileo Galilei, on the occasion of his birth in Pisa on 15 February 1564.
A conference on optics "from Galileo to the Space Telescopes", a conference on the great scientist's years in Pisa and the exhibition of important Galilean documents at the State Archives and the Diocesan Archives, including Galileo's baptism certificate, are all part of the "Galilean Day". Moreover, on Wednesday 16, the third edition of the Galilei Prize will be awarded by the Municipality of Pisa.
All events are open to the public and free of charge. An appointment that has been repeated since 2019, thanks to the collaboration of the Municipality of Pisa with the University of Pisa, Scuola Normale Superiore, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, State Archives and Archdiocese of Pisa and Diocesan Archives, CNR - National Institute of Optics. A special chocolate in the shape of a moon with craters, in homage to the great scientist, will also be distributed at each scheduled event.
The programme "Galileo's Pisan Years", 15-22 February 2022
Tuesday 15 February
State Archives, Lungarno Mediceo, 17
10:00 a.m.
Official greetings and presentation of the days with speeches by:
Jaleh Bahrabadi, director of the State Archives;
Paolo Pesciatini, councillor for tourism and services and integrated policies with the universities;
Chiara Bodei, president of the University of Pisa's University Museum System.
10:15 a.m.
Sergio Giudici (Unipi - Department of Physics and director of the Museum of Physics Instruments): "Galileo's Pisan Years";
10:45 a.m.
Inauguration of the exhibition of Galilean documents in the State Archives.
The exhibition will also be open on Monday 21 February and Tuesday 22 February from 9:00 to 13:00. For visits (maximum 10 people per visit), booking is necessary by calling 050 542698 or sending an email to as-pi@beniculturali.it. To visit the exhibition you must show your Green Pass.
Diocesan Archive, Piazza dell'Arcivescovado, 18
15:00 - 18:00
Inauguration of the exhibition of documents on Galileo's Pisan years.
The exhibition will also be open on Monday 21 February from 9:00 to 13:00 and Tuesday 22 February from 15:00 to 18:00. Reservations are required for visits (maximum 10 people per visit) by calling 050 565571 or sending an email to archivio@pisa.chiesacattolica.it. To visit the exhibition you must show your Green Pass.
Aula Magna Storica della Sapienza, via Curtatone e Montanara, 15
2.30 p.m.
Conference "The Geometry of Light: Optics from Galileo to the Space Telescopes".
Organising committee:
Sergio Giudici, University of Pisa, director Museo degli Strumenti di Fisica e della Ludoteca Scientifica, Department of Physics;
Veronica Roccatagliata, University of Pisa, Department of Physics;
Elisabetta Tognoni, National Institute of Optics, C.N.R. Pisa.
Speeches will be in presence and streamed at https://call.unipi.it/Galilei2022
Wednesday 23th February
Palazzo Gambacorti, Balearic Hall
11:00 a.m.
Award ceremony of the third edition of the Galileo Galilei Prize. The Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Pisa, Pierpaolo Magnani, will speak.