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This video presents an exploration of Perfume in Florence. Where to go and where to buy?
The episode commences at the Santa Maria Novella Basilica.

I hope you enjoy this episode.
Please provide feedback or ask questions in the comment section below.

Contents of this Video – Time Codes

0:00 Intro
0:56 The Santa Maria Novella Basilica
2.50 Inside the Basilica
3:56 A Look at the Cloisters
5:42. How I rate the major Basilica's in Florence
7:00. A Walk to the Pharmacy
7:15 Inside the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy 1221.
11:16 Two more locations of the Official Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy.
13:36 An Independent Perfumery at: Sileno Cheloni Profumoir
Via di San Niccolo’.
16:33 Conclusion

The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is one of the most significant churches in Florence. The basilica and adjoining cloister were built by the Dominican Order in the 13th century.

The church’s interior walls are decorated with frescoes that represent the daily life of the inhabitants of Florence during the Middle Ages. The two main works of art housed in the Basilica are: The Holy Trinity, a fresco by the painter Masaccio.The second is the wooden Crucifix by Brunelleschi.

A full-price ticket to visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella is €7.50.

The entrance ticket gives access to the entire Santa Maria Novella monumental complex, allowing to visit not only to the basilica but also all of the Dominican spaces and the cloisters, including the famous Green Cloister which contains frescoes by Paolo Uccello and takes its name from the frescoes originally painted in ‘green clay’. The Spanish Chapel, frescoed by Andrea Bonaiuto and the Cloister of the Dead which was originally a cemetery and is one of the oldest parts of the complex.

Now, the most beautiful "pharmacy" in the world!

The Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy is probably the oldest, still-operating pharmacy in the world.. It was established in 1221, when the Dominican monks from the adjacent Basilica of Santa Maria Novella began growing herbs to make balms, salves and medicines for their infirmary.

The Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy has been crafting beautiful fragrances, remedies and herbal products since 1221. You’ll find this extraordinary store in Florence just around corner from the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella.

The origins of the historic pharmacy at Santa Maria Novella are directly tied to the history of the basilica.

It was common for monasteries to have private gardens that included various types of medicinal herbs that were used to create the earliset forms of medications. Traditionally reserved for treating the monks within the monastery, by the 14th century news of the healing qualities of the remedies at Santa Maria Novella was beginning to spread outside the walls of the monastery. Perfumed waters were used for all kinds of medicinal treatments, including to fight off the plague in 1381.

Many products are still produced with ancient recipes, including perfumes, quite literally fit for a queen. In 1533 Caterina de’ Medici was betrothed to Henry II, the future King of France, and she asked the Dominican friars to create an essence that captured her beloved Florence. The masterpiece created was originally called “Acqua della Regina,” meaning “The Queen’s Water,”. Today you can still buy the same perfume – now called Acqua di Santa Maria Novella.

On display is a tempting selection of handcrafted perfumes, soaps, skincare and body care products, home scents, potpourri, and so much more. The candles and soaps with dried flowers are especially lovely souvenirs or gifts for friends and family.

1. OFFICINA PROFUMO-FARMACEUTICA DI SANTA MARIA NOVELLA
Via della Scala 16, Florence
www.smnovella.com

There are alternative, official Santa Maria Pharmacies that you can also visit:

2. OFFICINA PROFUMO-FARMACEUTICA DI SANTA MARIA NOVELLA
Via Roma, 2 50123 Florence

3. OFFICINA PROFUMO-FARMACEUTICA DI SANTA MARIA NOVELLA
Via Tornabuoni, 71 50123 Florence

Finally, how about a visit to an indepedent perfumery? This visit could be with an organised tour group or by yourself. I visited the Sileno Cheloni Profumoir. You can see the address below.

4. Sileno Cheloni Profumoir
Via di San Niccolo’. www.silenocheloni.it

Perfume Small Group Tours @ approximately Euro 70 per person. Try:

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I hope enjoy this episode.

Ciao