The Roman Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs is not a place you would expect to see a science project. But as part of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy it is honouring Galileo Galilee with the first ever one-of-a-kind exhibit to be shown in a church.


Lorenzo Zichichi
Art Curator
It's the first time an exhibit on Galileo is being shown in a Christian Basilica and the first time his experiments are displayed in a church. It's another result of John Paul II's efforts to promote dialogue between science and faith. And Benedict XVI reminds us of it with this year of astronomy.

For many it's the ideal place to have this exhibit. Science, faith and even art come together in this basilica designed by none other than Michelangelo and built from the ruins of an ancient Roman bathhouse. But aside from its history, this Basilica is also known for its intricate sundials, an astronomical wonder from the 18th century.

Renzo Giuliano
Parish Priest, Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs
It's a church that was designed by Michelangelo, and so summarizes the church's dialogue with art, with the times and with science.

The exhibit was inspired on the book Galileo: Divine Man written by famed physicist and president of the World Federation of Scientists, Antonino Zichichi. Just like the book, the exhibit shows through natural science, Galileo's belief and devotion to God, a notion many people fail to understand when it comes to science and religion.

Renzo Giuliano
Parish Priest, Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs
It's possible people today are too busy thinking about so many things that they are losing the notion of fundamental natural laws that Galileo began to shed light on.

Galileo's experiments like What goes up, must come down, outlined the importance of gravity to our planet and beyond. Today natural laws are expanding with a renewed interest in space exploration.

Renzo Giuliano
Parish Priest, Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs
I believe the interest for a cosmic globalization, that goes beyond our planet and into space, can help man open his mind.

Artistic interpretations of Galileo's experiments along with paintings and passages from his life make up this exhibition inside one of Rome's stellar basilicas.