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A history of Santa Maria Novella

The Santa Maria Novella is said to be the existent most antique pharmacy in the world. In 1221, about 800 years ago, established by the Dominicans “Santa Maria Fra Le Vigne” (Santa Maria inside vineyard) who moved to Florence, they produced medicines by compounding raised herbs then started their history. This convent has developed and became the Santa Maria Novella Church, one of the most precious churches.

In the pharmacy placed inside of the monastery, people originally compounded all the manner of drugs, unguents, analgesics, and perfumes along with the research of herbs and flowers. In 1612 it was authorized as a general pharmacy and began their business: this is a starting point of this pharmacy. Ever since it has succeeded an original orders and prescriptions up to now, a lot of clients come here from all over the world everyday.

Caterina di Lorenzo de' Medici, married and went into French royal family from the Medici Family on the 16th century, has brought a perfume “Acqua della Regina", specially prepared by Santa Maria Novella for this occasion. This perfume is praised as the “water of a queen”, the original word of “eau-de-cologn”, even now this same article is available at the shop.

Inside of the Santa Maria Novella

This pharmacy is an ex convent, you can see frescoes on the ceiling and portraits of successive owners on the wall. Inner space is so large and just like a pharmacy museum. You can see around beautiful courtyard, the room for compound medicinal herbs, the chapel, and the museum.

In the museum, prescription or books written in the 17th century and some experimental equipments make you recognize its precious history. You cannot find any other museum has an excellent perfume like it in the world.

Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy (Officina Profumo-farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella)
Opening Hours	9:00-19:00	View Larger Map
Days open	Everyday
Address	Via della Scala 16-Firenze-Italy
How to reach	It faces to the big street. On the map you can easily find this shop but the entrance is so small, please find it carefully.
Tel.	+39 055 216276 / +39 055 4368315
Fax	+39 055 288658 / +39 055 4222432
Branch	Lucca Filiale Forte dei Marmi (go to Map) Via Carducci, 59-55042 Forte dei Marmi (Lucca) Tel. e Fax 0584-89873 Rome Corso del Rinascimento, 47-00186 Roma (go to Map) Tel. 06-6879608-6872446 / Fax 06-6879472 Milan Corso Magenta, 22-20123 Milano (go to Map) Tel. e Fax 02-8053695 Genoa Via Garibaldi, 10 A/R-16124 Genova (go to Map) Tel. 010-2518420 / Fax 010-2770047 Como Via B. Luini, 11-22100 Como Tel. e Fax 031- 273578 Bologna Galleria Falcone e Borsellino, 2/3-40123 Bologna (go to Map) Tel. 051-235211 / Fax 051-352780 Siena Via dei Pellegrini, 4-53100 Siena Tel. 0577-270243 / Fax 0577-44590 Lucca Via Vittorio Veneto, 29-55100 Lucca (go to Map) Tel. e Fax 0583-490850 Grosseto Via Celso di Camaiori, 19-58043 Castiglion della Pescaia (GR) Tel. e Fax 0564-936425

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