Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

Catherine de Medicis, one of the pharmacy's early patrons

The Church of Santa Maria Novella and its monastery were established in 1221 outside the city gates of Florence. The monks began experimenting with herbs and flowers grown in the monastic garden, creating soothing balms, elixirs, and other medicaments. By 1381 an on-site infirmary was in operation, where the monks' products were used for treating themselves and Florentine patients. One of the products developed about this time was a distilled rose water intended to treat the plague, at the height of the Black Death.[1]

Bottles from the museum at Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy

Powerful scented waters were developed in medieval times including "Santa Maria Novella Water" and digestive aids like lozenges (Pasticche di Santa Maria Novella).[2] By the mid 16th century the pharmacy's widespread fame induced the monks to offer their products for sale to the public for the first time. The shop expanded its product range, developing curative tonics and perfumes including Acqua della Regina, a fragrance specially designed for Catherine de Medici, Queen of France, the pharmacy's most important patron.[2]

In 1749, one of the Officine's apothecaries, Fra' Cosimo Bucelli, codified Santa Maria Novella's extensive recipes in a book, "I segreti della Fonderia di Sua Altezza Reale" ("The Secrets of the Foundry of His Royal Highness"). It was Bucelli who developed the foundry's famous alcoholic liqueur, Alchermes, made from sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves (its deep scarlet color is obtained through dried and crushed ladybugs). [3] During the 17th century, Santa Maria Novella would turn its attention increasingly to developing new liqueurs, which had medicinal applications. Alchermes, for instance, was given to new mothers to aid their recovery from giving birth, while another famous liqueur, Elisir di China, contained quinine and was intended to treat malaria.[3]

The Sala Vendita, or Sales Hall of S.M. Novella

Santa Maria Novella continues to inhabit its historic premises on Via della Scala in Florence, around the corner from the Church of Santa Maria Novella, but since 2000 the production facilities have been housed in a factory two miles north. Since the 1990s, the focus has been placed on expanding output and markets for Santa Maria Novella products, while at the same time preserving the traditional, artisanal methods of production and high-quality ingredients. Objects such as soaps are cooled, wrapped, and ventilated for 30 days on wooden racks before they are chiseled and molded by hand for sale. Over 500 bars of soap are produced in this way each day, with 25 separate varieties available.[2]

The Sala Verde of Santa Maria Novella

The premises on the Via della Scala in Florence house several historic sales rooms, a tea room, and a museum and library dedicated to the history of the pharmacy. An average of 2,000 visitors per day visit the shop. The main sales room occupies a former chapel, with allegorical frescoes of the four continents painted by Paolino Sarti decorating the vaulted ceilings. The old sacristy is decorated with frescoes by the early-Renaissance artist Mariotto di Nardo, painted in 1380.[3] The Green Room houses displays of wax products, room fragrances, accessories, and men's grooming products. The Old Pharmacy (Antica Spezieria) displays the full range of medicaments and elixirs, foods including biscuits, chocolate, tea, and honey, and the pharmacy's famous liqueurs like Alchermes and Liquore Mediceo.[4] The museum and its exhibits are housed in the Old Laboratories of the Via della Scala premises, containing ceramic and earthenware jars from the 16th and 17th centuries, historic soap machines, and traditional tools. The library is housed in the old sacristy of the church, and includes medieval recipe and reference books.