The American Academy’s Casa Rustica—in the present Bass Garden—occupies the precise site where, on Thursday, April 14, 1611, Galileo made the first demonstration to a learned audience in Rome of his new invention, named on this occasion as the “telescope.” To mark the four hundredth anniversary of this historic achievement, the Academy staged a Conversation on science and faith moderated by Director Christopher S. Celenza (April 7, 2011), an exhibition of astronomical instruments from the collection of the Specola Vaticana (April 7–15), and a multimedia “Galileo Cabaret” on the significant date (Thursday 14 April 2011).

Finmeccanica generously provided financial support for all of these events. Vittorio Ferrara produced this highlights video.