Luogo - Monument
Antica Spezieria di San Giovanni Evangelista
Where
Borgo Pipa, 1, Parma
The first account of the existence of a pharmacy in
the Abbey of San Giovanni Evangelista in Parma dates back to 1201, but
its foundation could be even earlier, since the monastery was founded in
980 AD. It is likely, that at first it was only used as a Pharmacy
Service to the Benedictines and that only later became a public pharmacy
service. The current interior dates from the late sixteenth century and
the beginning of the next century, whilst the layout of the premises
underwent radical changes in 1766 when the Benedictines had to
secularize the pharmacy to avoid its permanent closure, which was
imposed by the Bourbon Minister Guglielmo Du Tillot. In 1896 the State
acquired the premises, which it then reopened to the public in 1951,
displaying a collection of mortars, earthenware jars, pots, stills and
other objects obtained from governmental and private donations. Of the
eight original areas of the Pharmacy, four still remain today, namely
the “la Sala del Fuoco”, “la Sala dei Mortai”, “la Sala delle Sirene”
and finally “la Sala del Pozzo”. (Hall of Fire, the Hall of Mortars, the
Hall of the Sirens and finally the Hall of the Well). All the rooms are
named after their specific contents or decorative elements that
characterize them.