of Monks and Potions

image | teelicht

Since the 1400's, Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella has been producing all sorts of balms and creams and tinctures of herbal wonder.  In 1612, the Dominican monks opened this farmacia to the public.  It is now one of the oldest in the world.  And we were lucky enough to literally stumbled upon it as we were headed to the Florence train station.

It's claimed that not many of the original recipes have changed much over the past gajillion years.   It certainly was one of the most spectacular sites we came upon on Florence. 

and nearly all the flowers and herbs and natural whatnot is grown in the hills of Florence - just for the added local Florentine magic.