The ancient charm of Venice, among spices, potions and perfumes, can still be found today in Santa Fosca at the Antica Spezieria all'Ercole d'Oro, where among original furnishings, glass vases for the preparations, wood carvings and rich decor, it can be relived the cozy atmosphere in Baroque style of centuries ago.
Spezeria all'Ercole d'Oro History
Venice as a crossroads of the world, a city of trade and commerce, of intertwined cultures, alchemy and mysteries. The city of the Doges around the eighth century became one of the most important and famous for the preparation of pharmaceutical products, derived mainly from the many spices imported from the East. At the spezieria all'Ercole d'Oro they lent their work chemical and spezia values since the eighteenth century, constantly looking for new preparations. Among them one of the most famous was the pharmacist, chemist and botanist Giovanni Girolamo Zannichelli, known for his production of the "Piovan pills", a cassia-based laxative remained in production until 1975.
The visitor can realize how pharmacies centuries ago had a much wider role than the current one: besides the activity of the apothecary, they were also meeting places and meeting places for those wishing to make conversation with acquaintances and friends. This also explains the importance to furnishings, as with the elegant baroque furniture in warm walnut burl, sculptures, wardrobes and shelves where the ceramic vases of Bassano show off. Part of its original vocation continues today, no longer to give relief to the evils, but at least to make the goods very pleasant thanks to the high perfumery line "The Merchant of Venice".