Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy
Ranked #474 in Travel & Places, #21,515 overall
One of the oldest pharmacies in the world
The Farmacia opened to the public in 1612 and became widely known for the quality of its products. In the 18th century, the pharmacy became known throughout the world in faraway countries like the Indies and China. The pharmacy continues to focus on the ancient traditional methods, using natural herbs and oils and are not tested on animals.
As soon as you enter the building, there is a faint scent of perfume, and a marbled entrance that draws you into the rest of the space. Let's take a walk inside...
Contents at a Glance
The Salesroom
The main room leading into the Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella is impressive, with frescos on its vaulted ceiling. On display are vessels of perfume and cologne as well as their various hand-moulded soaps, such as pomegranate or my favourite, mandorla, or almond. The perfume Acqua della Regina was originally created for Caterina de' Medici, of the Florentine Medici family, and Queen of France.
photo source museums in florence
The Potpourri Room
I'm not sure what the room next to the salesroom is called, but the main items on display here are the perfumes and liqueurs, such as Elisir Stomatico, or Elisir di Edimburgo. The potpourri are made from a mixture of herbs and flowers from Tuscany, and put in Impruneta terracotta jars. Among some of their products include Acqua Di Santa Maria Novella, which are to control hysterics and Aceto dei Sette Ladri, or smelling salts. There are also special products for your cats and dogs.
scents for the home
The Green Room
Once an old apothocary, this room displays old vessels, beakers, instruments, herbs and capsules used a long time ago. It also has a view of the central courtyard. This is my favourite room in the pharmacy, small but intimate and full of interesting artifacts.
photo source museums in florence
You might also enjoy
Saponificio Artigianale Fiorentino Tuscan Lavender Soap Set 4 X 4.40 Oz. From Italy
Amazon Price: $14.90 (as of 06/01/2012)
The Museum
Italian Glass Blue Perfume Bottle
Amazon Price: $30.00 (as of 05/31/2012)
the little store in the museum
The museum in the Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella contains displays of the antique ceramics, glassware and various utensils used in the production processes. There are two small rooms in the far back, one where there are the larger machines and presses, and another which sells specialty foods such as honey, teas, jelly and fruit compotes.
The Library
The library is the old sacristy and has books on view in Italian, French and English. They range in subjects from perfume making for Catherina de' Medici to books on Coco Chanel. Both the museum and library are only open during certain hours.
if you can't make it to Tuscany
inside the Farmacia
information
Via della Scala 16, 50123 Florence
tel. +39.055.216276
Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Reginaldo Giuliani 141, 50141 Florence
tel. +39.055.4368315
store hours:
Monday to Sunday
9:30 am to 7:30 pm
museum & library:
10:30 am - 7:00 pm
Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella articles elsewhere on the web
- Heaven Scent
- Smithsonian magazine - A 600-year-old pharmacy started by Florentine monks is now a trendy global marketer of perfumes and medieval elixirs
- Museums in Florence
- Historical information and additional photos of the pharmacy.
- Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella
- Wikipedia in Italian.
- Atlas Obscura
- Pharmacy museums.
- New York Times - Shopper's World; Florentine Potions For Sale
- Article on different pharmacies in Florence.
Search Amazon
eBay
eBay
Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella around the world
-
Belgium
-Augustijnenstraat 39, 2000 Antwerp tel. +32.3.2887069 -
Brazil
-Rua da Consolacao, 3354 - Jardins, Sao Paolo tel. +55.11.30810964
-Shopping Iguatemi Sao Paolo - Av. Brig. Faria Lima, 2232 - third floor, Sao Paolo
tel. +55.11.30322457 -
France
-7, Rue Marechal Foch, 06400 Cannes tel. +33.493.689015
-Rue des Gras 15 bis, 63000 Clermont Ferrand tel. +33.4.73378039
-Rue Auguste Comte 2669002 Lyon tel. +33.472.409545
-Rue Guisarde 2, 75006 Paris tel. +33.1.43262737
-Rue de la Paix 1, 75002 Paris tel. +33.1.42613325 -
Italy
-Via Cavour 48, 52100 Arezzo tel. +39.0575.353113
-Galleria Falcone e Borsellino 2/3, 40123 Bologna tel. +39.051.235211
-Via B. Luini 11, 22100 Como tel. +39.031.273578
-Via Carducci 59, 55042 Forte dei Marmi (Lucca) tel. +39.0584.89873
-Via Vittorio Veneto 29, 55100 Lucca tel. +39.0583.490850
-Via Vittorio Veneto 29, 55100 Lucca tel. +39.0583.490850
-Corso Magenta 22, 20123 Milan tel. +39.02.8053695
-Corso Rinascimento 47, 00186 Rome tel. +39.06.6879608
-Largo Felice Cavallotti 13, 07100 Sassari tel. +39.079.2015000
-Salizada S. Samuele S.Marco 3149, 30124 Venice tel. +39.041.5220814
-Vicolo Petroli (angolo via S. Vittore) 14, 28921 Verbania Intra tel. +39.0323.404119 -
Japan
-IMS Bldg. 2F, 1-7-11, Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka tel. +81.92.736.7855
-Higashino - Toin - Dori, Shijo-Agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto tel. +81.75.254.8691
-Midland Square 3F, 4-7-1, Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Nagoya
tel. +81.5.2527.8803
-Daimaru Umeda 2F, 3-1-1 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka tel. +81.6.6343.6725
-Marui Imai Ichijo-kan 1F, Minami 1 jo - Nishi 2 chome-11, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido tel. +81.11.223.6301
-Aoyama Suncrest Bldg. 1F,2-13-5 Kita Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo tel. +81.3.34082008
-6-12-13, 1F, Ginza Chuo-ku, Tokyo tel. +81.3.3572.2694
-Shin Marunouchi Bldg. 1F, 1-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo tel. +81.3.3211.2811 -
Korea
-Hotel Shilla Arcade B1F, 202 Jangchung-dong 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul tel. +82.2.22331612
-631-33, Shinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul tel. +82.2.5461612 -
Philipines
Ground Floor, Rustan Department Store Makati, Ayala Avenue, Makati City
tel. +63.2.8133739 -
Spain
-C/Espaseria 4, 08003 Barcelona tel. +34.93.2680237
-Calle Almirante 26, 28004 Madrid tel. +34.91.5218244
-Calle Abadia de San Martin 4, 46002 Valencia tel. +34.96.3942334 -
Taiwan (R.O.C.)
-Q Square shop 1F., No.1, Sec. 1, Chengde Rd., Datong Dist., 103 Taipei City tel. +886.2.25527533
-TianMu Shop: 1F, N. 102, Dexing W. Rd., Shilin District , 111 Taipei City tel. +886.2.28343292
-SOGO shop 4F, No.246, Sec.1, Dunhua S. Rd., Da-an District , 106 Taipei City tel. +886.2.27524563
-Breeze Center shop: GF., No.39, Sec.1, Fusing S. Rd., Da-an District , 106 Taipei City tel. +886.2.87727429 -
Thailand
Unit. No. 2F-01 second floor - Gaysorn Plaza - 999 Ploenchit Rd., Lumpini, Pathumwan , Bangkok tel. +66.2.651099 -
United Kingdom
Walton Street 117, SW3 2HP London tel. +44.20.74606600
-Piccadilly Arcade 1, W1J 9EN London tel. +44.20.74931975 -
United States
-The Bal Harbour Shops - Collins Avenue 9700, FL 33154 Bal Harbour tel. +1.305.865.3334
-Wisconsin Avenue 5454, MD 20815 Chevy Chase
-Highland Park Village 66, TX 75205 Dallas tel. +1.214.522.8880
-Melrose Place 8411, CA 90069 Los Angeles tel. +1..323.651.3754
-Lafayette Street 285, NY 10012 New York tel. +1.212.925.0001
Lafco New York
Share your favorite dream vacation lens below!
Can't wait to see where you want to go!
1
Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy
The Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella in Florence, I more...7 points
2
Monterey Bay Aquarium Great White Shark Exhibit
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Great White Shark exhibi more...4 points
3
South Indian Dances
Welcome to my South Indian Dances lens. The commen more...3 points
4
The Washington Scablands
The Scablands in the state of Washington consists more...2 points
5
17 Mile Drive Monterey To Pebble Beach, CA
The world famous 17 Mile Drive from Monterey to Pe more...2 points
6
Limoncello di Capri
Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur that origin more...2 points
7
Visit Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island is a wonderful day trip from the Ou more...2 points
8
http://www.squidoo.com/10-places-to-see-in-australia-before-you-die-
10 Places to see in Australia...1 point
9
Hiking The Wave In Coyote Buttes
Until a friend invited me on a hiking trip in nort more...1 point
10
World's Amazing Waterfalls
Nature displays its beauty in many forms, one of t more...1 point
Thanks for visiting!
-
-
miaponzo
May 4, 2012 @ 2:41 pm | delete
- I am an herbalist, so this pharmacy is fascinating to me! Blessed!
-
-
-
rogerrph
Mar 17, 2012 @ 2:26 pm | delete
- great photos of pharmacies!
-
-
-
accfuller
Feb 26, 2012 @ 10:57 pm | delete
- now that's a pharmacy! interesting!
-
-
-
TravelDiaries
Feb 14, 2012 @ 9:36 pm | delete
- Great lens. Great pictures. :)
-
-
-
TTMall
Feb 14, 2012 @ 4:50 pm | delete
- ur lens is awesome
-
-
-
nyclittleitaly
Jan 4, 2012 @ 4:07 pm | delete
- Great part of Italy. Great culture. Great lens.
-
-
-
Lindrus
Dec 28, 2011 @ 1:34 am | delete
- Nice lens! But when I added to the dream vacation list, I couldn't even see and to vote for my link when I clicked on "view all 150 links". It only shows the first 10 all the time... Some setting to adjust?
-
-
-
KimGiancaterino Oct 15, 2011 @ 11:49 am | delete
- This lens has been blessed and featured at The SquidAngel Dream Vacation Quest. Be sure to vote for it!
-
-
-
hessa_johnson Oct 15, 2011 @ 6:27 pm | delete
- Thank you! It's very much appreciated!
-
-
-
SaintFrantic
Oct 7, 2011 @ 3:20 pm | delete
- Italy I love to go for few months and explore all those nice beautiful places
-
- Load More
my other lenses
by hessa_johnson
The Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella is one of the places I have to take visitors to see. Not all pharmacies are created equal. more »
- 8 featured lenses
- Winner of 13 trophies!
- Top lens » Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy
Explore related pages
- Best Places to Have Coffee in Florence, Italy Best Places to Have Coffee in Florence, Italy
- Best Specialty Shops in Florence, Italy Best Specialty Shops in Florence, Italy
- Michelangelo's David Michelangelo's David
- Botticelli Botticelli
- Top 10 vacation destinations in Italy Top 10 vacation destinations in Italy
- Best Places to Have Gelato in Florence, Italy Best Places to Have Gelato in Florence, Italy
Florentia Luxury Italian Floral Gift Set
Florentia Luxury Italian Floral Gift Set, 6 Soaps, Narcissus, Anemone, Crocus, Rose, Freesia, Amaryllis, 60 Gr Each
Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
Italian Blood Orange Soap
Mor Cosmetics Emporium Soap Bar, Italian Blood Orange, 7-Ounce
Amazon Price: $6.01 (as of 06/01/2012)
Italian Crystal Potpourri and Toothbrush Holder
Italian 24% Crystal Potpourri & Toothbrush Holder
Amazon Price: $44.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
