Among the many buildings of historic interest in Florence are numerous pharmacies, did you know this?
Perhaps the most famous is the centuries-old Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella; it’s a fundamental destination for those who want to take home a refined travel souvenir.
Its delicate rose water, distilled since 1831, is a quintessential Florentine product and apart from this you’ll find many different types of cologne, including iris perfume (irises are the symbolic flower of Florence).
When you enter the old pharmacy for the first time, you’ll be amazed by the beauty of the frescoed ceilings and the splendor of the Neogothic-style furnishings. Additionally, on the right side an unassuming door takes you to a salon where, in the 18th century, highly-regarded guests were taken to enjoy the pharmacy’s liquors. From here you can access the apothecary where, since 1221, the collection and treatment of medicinal herbs has taken place.

A journey amidst the pharmacies that touch Florence with the fragrance of yesteryear

Tips

Address: Via della Scala 16, 50123 Firenze (FI)