logo Museo Galileo - Institute and Museum of the History of Science
  • Interior of the English Pharmacy "al Dante", Viareggio.zoom in altra finestra
  • Interior of the English Pharmacy "al Dante", Viareggio.zoom in altra finestra

Farmacia Inglese "al Dante" ["Al Dante" English Pharmacy]

The first information on the pharmacy dates from 1870, a time in which it was managed by Dr. Piccinini, and 1883, when its proprietor was Dr. Belloni. The pharmacy became especially famous around 1930 as a meeting place for anti-Fascists and for well-known authors. In compliance with the laws in force at the time, the owner, Dr. Ciuti, was obliged to conceal the word "English". In 1943 the pharmacy was bought by Dr. Ferruccio Martinotti who, immediately after the war, restored the old name, but moved the pharmacy's location to the premises it occupies today.

Recently enlarged, the pharmacy retains vintage wooden furniture and a wealth of coeval pharmaceutical equipment in its back room. In the sales room it conserves highly refined furnishings dating from 1930, purchased at the time when the pharmacy moved to its new location. They consist of glass-fronted cabinets in carved and inlaid wood and a sales counter with ceramic decorations reminiscent of the style of Galileo Chini. The pharmacy also possesses a handwritten prescription book compiled by Pacifico Pietro Martinotti.

****************************

Texts by Francesco Boccanera, Anna Vittoria Laghi

English translation by Catherine Frost

Last update 19/gen/2008