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Eau FactsHouses and their firsts

Why does Santa Maria Novella have two founding years?

The short answer

Because it counts two beginnings. Santa Maria Novella in Florence dates its continuity to 1221, when Dominican friars took over the site and planted a medicinal garden, and its public pharmacy to 15 October 1612, when the convent voted to open its doors to outside clients. So it marked 400 years in 2012 and 800 in 2021.

By the Fragnatique team2 min read4 sourcesUpdated 11 November 2026

A striped stone arch framing a Florentine cloister garden, with the words Santa Maria Novella, 800 years.

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Key facts

1221Twelve Dominican friars take over the site and plant the Orto dei Semplici, the house says.
1381The first documented sale of perfumed waters, including Acqua di Rose.
15 October 1612The convent votes to open a public pharmacy.
Angiolo MarchissiThe friar who opened the pharmacy to the public, Patek Philippe Magazine says.
2012The four hundredth anniversary, counted from the public pharmacy.
2021The eight hundredth anniversary, counted from the friars' garden.

What happened at Santa Maria Novella in 1221?

The house's official history says that in 1221 twelve Dominican friars obtained formal use of the site and established the Hortus Conclusus, the Orto dei Semplici, a botanical garden grown for the community's infirmary. It adds that the institution's continuity is counted from this point. Patek Philippe Magazine agrees that medicinal herbs had been grown in the grounds since 1221.

Why is 1612 also a founding year?

On 15 October 1612 a council of the convent voted to establish a public pharmacy, the house writes, turning a closed monastic laboratory into an institution open to clients from outside. Patek Philippe Magazine says Friar Angiolo Marchissi opened the pharmacy to the public as demand for its medicines grew, and Museo Galileo states that the pharmacy was officially born in 1612.

When did Santa Maria Novella start selling perfume?

Its history records the documented sale of perfumed waters in 1381, among them Acqua di Rose, and Museo Galileo dates the first documented fragrances to the same year. The house says the purpose was mainly medical: the rose water was used to disinfect rooms during plague epidemics and was taken diluted in wine as a medicament.

Which anniversary is the real one?

Both, counted from different things. Patek Philippe Magazine reports that rooms were reopened in 2012 to mark the four hundredth anniversary, counted from the public pharmacy. In 2021 the brand's chief marketing officer told Bustle that everything started in 1221, and the house celebrated eight hundred years, counted from the friars' garden.

The full storySanta Maria Novella: Why the Florence Pharmacy Has Two Birth Years8 min read in the Fragnatique Journal

Sources

Primary sources only. Every statement on this page restates one of them, read by the Fragnatique team.

From the Journal

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