5
cultural promotion of the neediest social classes (Chinnici 2019). His constant commitment to the service of his fellow citizens, who often turned to him for advice on
the most disparate issues, should also be remembered. This topic is explored in
Chap. 16.
Another important aspect that is certainly worth mentioning was his difficult and
controversial role working between two cultures, the Catholic and the secularliberal, at a time when there was a clash between the Church and the new state of
Italy, as discussed in Chaps. 2 and 3. In this regard we remember his friendship with
the secular scientists Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli (1835–1910), Quintino Sella
(1827–1884), and Pietro Tacchini (1838–1905). It was his close scientific partnership with Tacchini that gave rise to the idea of founding the Society of Italian
Spectroscopists, which is still active today as the Italian Astronomical Society.
These topics are discussed in Chaps. 14, 18, and 19.
A further analysis of Secchi’s biography is found Chap. 4.
1.3 The History of the Collegio Romano Observatory
The Collegio Romano was founded by St. Ignatius in 1551 in a modest house at the
foot of the Campidoglio. In 1585, Pope Gregory XIII decided to endow a new magnificent site, and the institution quickly became the most important center of study
for the Society of Jesus. Its syllabus, while focused on theology, philosophy, and
other humanities, was always accompanied by scientific subjects, in particular
mathematics and astronomy.
In the first two centuries of the College’s activity there was no astronomical
observatory: celestial phenomena were observed from windows and balconies. In
1787, during the suppression of the Society of Jesus, the Calandrelli Tower was
constructed; it was named after Giuseppe Calandrelli (1749–1827), astronomer and
priest of the diocese of Rome, in charge of this new astronomical observatory. The
tower, with a height of 67 m, was equipped with astronomical instruments and a
sundial, which still exists.
At about the same time, Ruggiero Boscovich (1711–1787) first came up with the
idea of erecting an observatory above St. Ignatius Church. The idea was to place a
set of telescopes on the roof near the area that had been designed to support a dome
that had never been built. Indeed, the Jesuit architect and painter Andrea Pozzo
(1642–1709) had produced a remarkable trompe-l’oeil perspective painting on the
flat ceiling where the dome was to have been. However, with the construction of the
Calandrelli Tower, Boscovich’s design was shelved.
As noted above, Angelo Secchi was named the director of the observatory in
1850. In 1852, Secchi revived the idea of creating an astronomical observatory
above the church, taking advantage of the stability of the four mighty pillars that
were supposed to support the dome: they would offer an excellent foundation for the
installation of telescopes. Thanks to funding from Pius IX, in a very short time the
1 An Introduction to Angelo Secchi and his Collegio Romano Observatory
cultural promotion of the neediest social classes (Chinnici 2019). His constant commitment to the service of his fellow citizens, who often turned to him for advice on
the most disparate issues, should also be remembered. This topic is explored in
Chap. 16.
Another important aspect that is certainly worth mentioning was his difficult and
controversial role working between two cultures, the Catholic and the secularliberal, at a time when there was a clash between the Church and the new state of
Italy, as discussed in Chaps. 2 and 3. In this regard we remember his friendship with
the secular scientists Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli (1835–1910), Quintino Sella
(1827–1884), and Pietro Tacchini (1838–1905). It was his close scientific partnership with Tacchini that gave rise to the idea of founding the Society of Italian
Spectroscopists, which is still active today as the Italian Astronomical Society.
These topics are discussed in Chaps. 14, 18, and 19.
A further analysis of Secchi’s biography is found Chap. 4.
1.3 The History of the Collegio Romano Observatory
The Collegio Romano was founded by St. Ignatius in 1551 in a modest house at the
foot of the Campidoglio. In 1585, Pope Gregory XIII decided to endow a new magnificent site, and the institution quickly became the most important center of study
for the Society of Jesus. Its syllabus, while focused on theology, philosophy, and
other humanities, was always accompanied by scientific subjects, in particular
mathematics and astronomy.
In the first two centuries of the College’s activity there was no astronomical
observatory: celestial phenomena were observed from windows and balconies. In
1787, during the suppression of the Society of Jesus, the Calandrelli Tower was
constructed; it was named after Giuseppe Calandrelli (1749–1827), astronomer and
priest of the diocese of Rome, in charge of this new astronomical observatory. The
tower, with a height of 67 m, was equipped with astronomical instruments and a
sundial, which still exists.
At about the same time, Ruggiero Boscovich (1711–1787) first came up with the
idea of erecting an observatory above St. Ignatius Church. The idea was to place a
set of telescopes on the roof near the area that had been designed to support a dome
that had never been built. Indeed, the Jesuit architect and painter Andrea Pozzo
(1642–1709) had produced a remarkable trompe-l’oeil perspective painting on the
flat ceiling where the dome was to have been. However, with the construction of the
Calandrelli Tower, Boscovich’s design was shelved.
As noted above, Angelo Secchi was named the director of the observatory in
1850. In 1852, Secchi revived the idea of creating an astronomical observatory
above the church, taking advantage of the stability of the four mighty pillars that
were supposed to support the dome: they would offer an excellent foundation for the
installation of telescopes. Thanks to funding from Pius IX, in a very short time the
1 An Introduction to Angelo Secchi and his Collegio Romano Observatory