Historic Pharmacy of SS. Sacramento | Roccavaldina, Italy

Antica Farmacia del SS. Sacramento

The Historic Pharmacy of SS. Sacramento in Roccavaldina, Sicily, is a remarkable example of a 16th-century pharmacy. It houses 238 ceramic vessels, including albarelli, amphorae, flasks, and jugs, made in 1580 by the workshop of Antonio Patanazzi in Urbino. These jars are decorated with mythological, historical, and biblical scenes, many inspired by Raphael's frescoes in the Vatican Loggias. The pharmacy retains its original furnishings, including wooden shelves, and most notably, the stone entrance door, which features a unique opening system. This system was designed to allow the pharmacist to provide medicines to customers without direct contact, particularly during times of epidemics, offering a public health measure to limit the spread of disease. The collection and the pharmacy itself provide a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of art, medicine, and societal concerns in the 16th century, preserving both cultural heritage and public health practices.