Birthplace of Galileo Galilei, via Giusti

Casa natale di Galileo Galilei (G. Bettini, Comune di Pisa)

The mystery of the three native houses: Until 1800, it was thought that Galileo was born in the parish of Sant'Andrea in Kinzica, or in Fortezza, near today’s Giardino Scotto. This thesis was refuted since to have the mandatory requirement to be born in the Fortezza his father, Vincenzo Galilei, needed to be a master of arms, but we know well that he was a merchant and luthier. The second birthplace is located in Borgo Stretto, casa Bocca, at the corner with via Mercanti. This was the home that Vincenzo rented a few months before the great scientist's birth and where he lived with Giulia for about ten years. The baptism certificate mentions the parish, Sant'Andrea, while the aforementioned house belongs to that of San Michele in Borgo. From the notarial archives it was discovered that the home of the Ammannati was in via Giusti and it is very likely that, respecting the customs of the time, Giulia had returned right there to give birth to her firstborn, helped during the birth by her mother Lucrezia and her sisters. Galileo was therefore born in this house on 15 February 1564 and was baptised in the nearby Church of Sant'Andrea Foris Porta (from the house it is possible to see the back of the church), four days later, on the 19th, in the presence of the Knight of Santo Stefano Jacopo Forno da Modena (Chavalieri oven el S.re Pompeo) and Averardo De ‘ Medici.

Curious fact: Galileo was not baptised on the day of his birth, as is customary, since, given his neonatal asphyxia, it was necessary to wait for an insufflation treatment that saved him from suffocation.