Casa torre Vernagalli (M. Pileri)Almost hidden among what remains of the cloister of the San Michele in Borgo church, in the place of which a complex of modern buildings was erected at the beginning of the 80s of the last century, called 'mattonaia' by the Pisans, we , at no. 15 of the homonymous street, the Vernagalli tower house, from the 12th century. The structure, built entirely of Verrucana stone, develops over five floors with large duble pointed arches. The top floors were cut transversely, perhaps due to a collapse or with the intention of cancelling the symbol of the owner's power, represented by the height of the tower. In front of the tower house there is the via degli Orafi, later called via dei Battichiodi, evidence of past activities carried out in this district.
The first hospital of the 'gittatelli': Blessed Domenico Vernagalli was born in the Vernagalli tower house in 1180. He led an ascetic life dedicated to helping others, especially the little ones. At the time, like other European cities, Pisa had to fight against an increasingly growing phenomenon: the abandonment of infants. In 1218, the year before his death, Domenico Vernagalli founded the Hospital of the Gittatelli (thrown away, abandoned) in the cloister of San Michele, later transferred to va Santa Maria with the name of 'Ospedale dei Trovatelli'.
