Kathy and I stumbled on this gem, thinking it was an interesting-looking ruin. Were we surprised! In 1561, this basilica was designed by Michelangelo and built into the ruins of the great Diocletian's Bath. One of the wonderful unexpected finds of our trip.

Galileo was an astronomer who discovered that the earth revolved around the sun. For this unorthodox teaching, he was excommunicated until he recanted. This basilica had a tribute to Galileo, with scenes of his trial and unusual markings on the marble floor. The floors were marked in such a way that the sun shining on them on certain days of the year would tell about the constellations, show when the day was the longest, etc.

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