 Because of their illegitimate birth , their father considered the girls unmarriageable , if not posing problems of prohibitively expensive support or dowries , which would have been similar to Galileo 's previous extensive financial problems with two of his sisters . Their only worthy alternative was the religious life . Both girls were accepted by the convent of San Matteo in Arcetri and remained there for the rest of their lives . Virginia took the name Maria Celeste upon entering the convent . She died on 2 April 1634 , and is buried with Galileo at the Basilica of Santa Croce , Florence . Livia took the name Sister <unk> and was ill for most of her life . Vincenzo was later legitimised as the legal heir of Galileo and married <unk> <unk> . 
