400 Years of Beauty: Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy in Florence

Written by Philippa Burne, UK, July 2012

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Good Place to Shop, Church / Cathedral, Monument - Historical

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Comment from Philippa Burne

400 Years of Beauty: Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy in Florence

Celebrating their 400th anniversary this year, the pharmacy at Santa Maria Novella church in Florence is clearly something special.

The first thing you notice when entering is the heavenly scent. Since they made their first perfume for Catherine de Medici in 1533, this place has become world famous for their perfumery.

The next thing that hits you is how beautiful the building itself is. Many people go just to see this historic place dating from the 13th century with its ceiling frescoes, gold inlaid walls, and antique bronzes. Most people end up staying longer than intended, mesmerized by the lotions, teas, soaps, potpourri and tonics. All the ingredients are natural, without the chemical additives so prevalent these days. And it is not all just pampering and nice scents – this is a working pharmacy where you can find medications to treat health issues and such necessities as chemical-free toothpaste.

Editor’s Note: This recommendation was taken from our Florence Things to Do blog. Visit the original post to continue reading the full post and to learn more about things to do in Florence.

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