Hispanic Pharmacy Museum-UCM | Madrid, Spain

Museo de la Farmacia Hispana - Universidad Complutense de Madrid

The Hispanic Pharmacy Museum, located at Faculty of Pharmacy of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, is home to one of the most complete collections of objects related to the history of pharmacy and medicine in Spain. Founded in the early 20th century by Rafael Folch Andreu and officially opened in 1951, the museum displays a wide range of historical pharmacy tools, vessels, and artifacts. Among the museum’s highlights are five historical pharmacies that have been relocated and carefully restored for public viewing. These include a 14th-century pharmacy from Toledo, a 16th-century alchemist's laboratory, and pharmacies from hospitals like Tavera in Toledo and San Juan Bautista in Astorga. Each of these showcases the evolution of pharmacy, with authentic items such as intricately painted wooden cabinets, ceramic jars, and glass containers used to store and prepare medicines. The collection also features impressive examples of ceramics and porcelain from major Spanish, French, Italian, and Dutch manufacturers, as well as glass vessels and laboratory instruments used in distillation and other pharmaceutical practices. Other notable items include a wide array of mortars and pestles, scales, and specialized pharmaceutical tools such as pill-makers and microscopes. The museum even houses a collection of historic medicines, from rare substances used in ancient remedies to early pharmaceutical preparations from the industrialization of medicine. This museum offers a fascinating look into the evolution of pharmacy, displaying not only the tools and containers used throughout the centuries but also the scientific and cultural history behind the practice of medicine in Spain.