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Portrait of Maria Celeste

Maria Celeste

1600 – 1634

Daughter of Galileo Galilei and Marina Gamba

Religious sisterRoman Catholic
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About Maria Celeste

Lived 1600 – 1634 (aged 33). Maria Celeste was an Italian religious sister and roman Catholic.

Sister Maria Celeste (born Virginia Gamba; 16August 16002April 1634) was an Italian nun. She was the illegitimate daughter of the scientist Galileo Galilei and Marina Gamba. Maria Celeste was also a mediator between her father and her brother.

In fiction Maria Celeste appears as a character in the play Life of Galileo, by Bertold Brecht and Margarete Steffin. The play does not give an accurate portrayal of her life as it depicts her becoming engaged, rather than as a nun. She appears as a character in the novel Galileo's Dream, by Kim Stanley Robinson. Maria Celeste is a character in the 2026 Broadway musical Galileo by Michael Weiner, Zoe Sarnak, and Danny Strong.

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Important facts

Born
16 August 1600, Padua
Birth century
16th century
Died
2 April 1634, Arcetri
Occupation
Religious sister, Roman Catholic
Nationality
Republic of Venice
Also known as
Virginia Galilei

People in Maria Celeste's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Portrait of Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei
1564 – 1642
Astronomer

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Maria Celeste's

Portrait of Francis Glisson
Francis Glisson
1597 – 1677
Physiologist
 Portrait of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk
Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk
1561 – 1626
Politician
 Portrait of Henry Wotton
Henry Wotton
1568 – 1639
Poet
 Portrait of Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler
1571 – 1630
Naturalist
 Portrait of Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
1584 – 1650
Politician
 Portrait of Nicolaes Tulp
Nicolaes Tulp
1593 – 1674
Physician

Frequently asked questions

Who was Maria Celeste?

daughter of Galileo Galilei and Marina Gamba

When was Maria Celeste born?

Maria Celeste was born on 16 August 1600 in Padua.

When did Maria Celeste die?

Maria Celeste died on 2 April 1634 in Arcetri.

What was Maria Celeste's occupation?

Maria Celeste was a religious sister and roman Catholic.

What nationality was Maria Celeste?

Maria Celeste was Italian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Maria Celeste

· Wikidata: Q3123699

· DBpedia: Maria Celeste

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Maria Celeste. https://biography.guide/maria-celeste/

MLA: "Maria Celeste." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/maria-celeste/.

Chicago: "Maria Celeste." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/maria-celeste/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-26 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:13 UTC