CityBuddy
Kierros Santa Maria Novellan apteekissa (vanha yrttiapteekki)
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings right when it opens at 9:00 AM to avoid cruise ship crowds that flood in after 11:00 AM. December weekdays are especially quiet before Christmas gift shoppers arrive.
Budget tips
Entry to the shop and museum is completely free. Watch the budget by skipping the gift shop impulse buys; a small bottle of rose water costs around 30 EUR, but you can smell everything for free.
Recommended for
Perfume and fragrance lovers, History enthusiasts, Solo travelers seeking quiet reflection, Souvenir hunters wanting authentic Florentine crafts
Plan your visit
45-60 minutes
About
Quick facts: The Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella dates back over 400 years, making it one of the world's oldest pharmacies. Dominican friars began cultivating medicinal herbs here in the 13th century, and the shop still sells original rose water and potpourri recipes from the 1500s.
Highlights: Behind the unassuming stone facade lies a frescoed Renaissance apothecary that smells of lavender, sage, and 400-year-old rose water recipes. Visitors sip herbal tea under vaulted ceilings painted with biblical scenes while browsing ceramics that hold the same herb blends favored by Medici nobility.
Insider tips
- Head to the back room where you can sample their famous herbal liqueur, Liquore Antico, for a small fee that includes a tasting glass.
- Photography is permitted, but skip the selfie stick and use natural light from the courtyard windows for warmer shots.
- The potpourri counter lets you mix your own custom blend from 30 different dried herbs and flowers by weight.
- Visit the small museum upstairs first to see original distillation equipment and medieval recipe books before browsing the shop floor.
Where to Stay in Florence
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More attractions in Florence
Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo di Firenze)
Piazza della Signoria
Galleria degli Uffizi (Uffizi Gallery)
Ponte Vecchio
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