Visions of the Cosmos. From Antiquity to Galileo and Modern Astronomy

The infinity that expands in the night sky has been a subject of contemplation and study since the dawn of civilization. From the ancient Mesopotamians of the 4th millennium BCE to the Copernican Revolution – disseminated by Galileo Galilei, the “father of modern observational astronomy” civilizations have long sought to conceive, theorize, and represent the structure of the Universe. The astronomers of the Renaissance, along with the Greeks and the great Arab scientists of the Middle Ages, marked key turning points in this evolving science, paving the way to modern astronomy and our current understanding of the Universe.

This exhibition, conceived by the Galileo Galilei Museum of Florence, in collaboration with Contemporanea Progetti, celebrates this millennia-long story and its protagonists. It explores how the vision and the study of the Cosmos have always been deeply intertwined with other disciplines, such as mathematics and philosophy, and how they have mirrored the societies in which they evolved, reflecting humanity’s fears, expectations, and needs.

From the solar clock of Ancient Egypt to Galileo’s telescope and on to the scientific revolution brought by the Hubble and later Webb space telescopes, the evolution of astronomical tools is displayed alongside a rich array of original ancient artworks, maps, and writings, as well as a wide collection of reproductions and contemporary working models, scientifically reconstructed from ancient preparatory drawings and unfinished projects, from the Galileo Museum collection. The visitor experience is also further enhanced by captivating videos and immersive environments.

A unique exhibition presenting a rich and diverse selection of artefacts that narrate the story of humanity’s enduring quest to explore and understand the mysterious nature of the Cosmos.