Officina di Santa Maria Novella

History

The origin of the Officina is linked to the foundation of the Dominican convent of Santa Maria Novella in 1221. Within the convent, friars cultivated medicinal plants and prepared remedies for the religious community and for the care of the sick.

As early as 1381 it is documented that the Dominicans of Santa Maria Novella sold rose water as a disinfectant, used especially in times of epidemics. The friars cultivated medicinal plants (the semplici, from which the name of the Giardino dei Semplici derives) in an adjacent garden, distilling herbs and flowers and preparing essences, elixirs, ointments and balsams. The garden of the simples supplied mainly the nearby Pharmacy of San Marco, also founded and managed by the Dominican friars.

In 1508 the presence of a small convent pharmacy is attested. By 1542 the apothecary had its own autonomous administrative organisation, as documented by the first Book of Income and Expenses.

Between 1590 and 1591 the apothecary underwent an expansion and reorganisation of its spaces and equipment, with the introduction of new furnishings, instruments and containers.

The year 1612 marks its opening to the public. During this period, the apothecary was managed by the lay apothecary Simone Marchi and the Dominican friar Angiolo Marchissi, a central figure in the development of the Officina during the 17th century. The current perfumery dates to 1612, when it still functioned also as an apothecary. Renowned throughout Europe, it received from Grand Duke Ferdinand II de' Medici the title of Fonderia di Sua Altezza Reale (Foundry of His Royal Highness) in 1659, during the direction of Fra' Angiolo Marchissi. In the 18th century its products were exported as far as India and China.

In the 19th century, under the direction of Fra' Damiano Beni, important reorganisation and expansion works were undertaken, leading to the current configuration. In 1866 the complex passed to the State; in 1867 it was entrusted to Cesare Augusto Stefani for management, and in 1871 it became the property of the Municipality of Florence.

During the 20th century the Officina progressively assumed a corporate structure, combining traditional practices with a larger-scale organised production. …

Architectural history

The Officina is housed within the convent complex of Santa Maria Novella and reflects an architectural stratification from the 14th to the 19th century. A decisive intervention in the current layout occurred between 1847 and 1852, when, under the direction of Fra' Damiano Beni, the architect Enrico Romoli reorganised the spaces and created the monumental entrance on Via della Scala.

The ancient apothecary, today no longer a pharmacy but a perfumery and herbalist's shop, occupies a monumental space with antique decorations and furnishings from various periods. It also preserves a notable collection of scientific instruments such as thermometers, mortars, scales and measures, as well as valuable apothecary jars from the 17th to the 20th century.

Interiors

The current entrance on Via della Scala dates to the 19th-century works designed by Enrico Romoli. Access to the perfumery sales room is through a finely carved full-arch portal in pietra serena, surmounted by a pediment at the centre of which is the coat of arms of the Dominican friars, recognisable by the radiant sun.

The gallery leading to the Sales Hall is not the original entrance to the Pharmacy; it was opened only at the end of the 18th century. The official opening of the pharmacy to the public in 1612 gave access from the Great Cloister of Santa Maria Novella, today belonging to the Carabinieri Non-Commissioned Officers' School, through the shell-shaped portal designed by Matteo Nigetti. The ancient apothecary, today a herbalist's shop, served as the sales and display room from 1612 to 1848.

In the classicising atrium, two exedrae open on either side, each with a marble statue: Hygieia and Galen, the personification of the goddess of health and the god of medicine respectively. The small vestibule is in the neo-Gothic style, with predominantly blue and gold decorations, and gives access to the main sales room.

The Grand Sales Hall was originally one of the convent's chapels, dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari, under the patronage of the wealthy Acciaioli family. According to tradition, the chapel was a gift of gratitude from Dardano Acciaioli to the Dominican friars. It is recounted that Dardano was ill and doctors could neither diagnose nor cure his illness. To protect their reputation, they prescribed a particular grape called «ursina» or «lugliola», which was almost impossible to find at that time of year. The absence of recovery would thus be attributed to the impossibility of procuring the «medicine». The friars of Santa Maria Novella, upon learning of this, gathered this grape from their garden and offered it to Dardano, who miraculously recovered. The nobleman proposed to the Dominicans that he donate something to remain in perpetual memory, and they asked him to contribute to the construction of a chapel «for the benefit of the sick». The chapel arose near the infirmary so that the sick could follow the religious services from their own beds. …

Scientific collections

Throughout the Pharmacy various scientific instruments and containers are on display, datable between the 17th and 20th centuries. The collection consists of three groups: ceramic pharmacy jars (manufactures from Montelupo, Richard-Ginori and Chini), pharmacy glassware (bottles, alembics and other items) and scientific instruments proper (thermometers, mortars, scales, measures).

In the display cases of the Room of the Ancient Apothecary, old alembics and other instruments used to extract and synthesise perfumes and medicinal compounds are exhibited; the tall-stemmed thermometers of the Accademia del Cimento are copies: the originals are held at the Museo Galileo in Florence.

Adjacent to the Apothecary are the large cellars where products have been stored for centuries. From here one can also access the Tisaneria and the ancient distillery; these spaces overlook the herb garden where the friars cultivated medicinal plants, near the second entrance on Piazza Santa Maria Novella (open only on special occasions).