Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
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Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (Pharmaceutical Perfume Workshop of Santa Maria Novella) is a pharmacy-museum – one of the oldest still active in Europe.
It is located a stone’s throw from the railway station and Palazzo Strozzi, in a section of the convent complex of Santa Maria Novella. It’s actually the same place where, in 1221, the Dominican friars were already cultivating medicinal herbs and flowers to prepare elixirs, ointments, pomades and balms for their own infirmary.
Today, it is no longer a pharmacy, but a herbalist’s shop and a perfumery. It is set in a monumental environment, with decorations, frescoes and antique furnishings, such as the entrance portal in finely sculpted round-arched stone, surmounted by a pediment at the centre of which there’s the coat of arms of the Dominican friars – the radiant sun. The frescoes in the vault represent the four continents symbolizing the international fame of Santa Maria Novella workshop and its products around the world. The hall of the ancient apothecary, embellished by rich stucco decorations of the XVIII century, feature fantastic animals, sphinxes, dragons, royal eagles, masks, festoons of fruit and roses.
In addition to a library with an impressive wealth of information and a museum, where old machinery is kept, the workshop exhibits a collection of scientific tools, such as thermometers, mortars, scales, measuring cups and precious pharmacy jars from the XVII to the XX century.
On sale, there ancient preparations, such as lemon balm water or lavender salts, cosmetics products, aromatic waters and fragrances, candles, and liqueurs.
The English Pharmacy Perfumery, in via dei Tornabuoni, it is also definitely worth a visit. It was established in 1843 by the English pharmacist Henry Roberts, the inventor of the famous talcum powder; in the luxuriously furnished rooms, with mahogany walls and large chandeliers, this pharmacy offers high-end cosmetic products.
Last but not least, there are two other similar establishments that should not be missed: the Pharmacy of Santissima Maria Annunziata, which still offers home-made ancient galenic products, and the pharmacy of Canto delle Rondini, still featuring its original 1919 furnishing.
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Via della Scala 16 - Firenze(FI)
055 216276
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