The Ancient pharmaceutical workshop in Santa Maria Novella is part of the convent complex of the homonymous Church. Today it is the oldest pharmacy in Europe whose origins date back to 1381 when the Dominican friars began to use rose water, grown in their garden, as a disinfectant during the various epidemic periods.
The current perfumery dates back to the 17th century, inaugurated by Grand Duke Ferdinand II of the Medici. Inside, there are antique furnishings from various eras, measuring instruments, such as thermometers and scales, as well as mortars and pharmacy jars.
Come and discover a place where the art of perfumery is intertwined with centuries of history and tradition.
Book your guided tour and let yourself be carried away on a journey where you can discover the secrets kept by generations of master perfumers and apothecaries.
Pharmaceutical workshop in Florence: Tour in Historical Perfumes
The guided tour of the pharmaceutical workshop in Santa Maria Novella lasts 2 hours and every detail tells the story of ancient wisdom and refined elegance.
The current Sales Hall was one of the chapels of the convent. Today it houses a beautiful frescoed cross vault depicting the 4 continents, a symbol of the fame of the Pharmacy in the world. In its neo-Gothic cabinets are exhibited the products used by the Workshop. Adjacent to the room, there is the so-called Green Room, dating back to 1300, once used as a room for distilling stoves and equipped with stoves.
The Room of the Ancient Apothecary, once used for sales, is surmounted by a magnificent ceiling from the 1700s richly decorated with stucco and, inside, wardrobes from the 1600s are on display.
The Sacristy was the room for storing distilled water. The room still preserves frescoed walls with scenes of the Passion dating back to 1300 and 1400.
The Museum exhibits scientific instruments dating back to the period between 1600 and 1900, including ceramic apothecary vases, pharmacy glass, stills and measuring cups.
The stages of the tour
What you will visit during the Florenceforanyone tour:
- Sales Room
- Green Room
- Room of the Ancient Apothecary
- Sacristy
- Museum
