Inauguration of the Doade Pharmacy-Museum (Galicia): A Living Heritage Space

On Thursday, October 24, 2024, the Doade Pharmacy Museum was inaugurated in the municipality of Beariz (Ourense), a unique space where history and health intertwine in a fascinating journey. This place not only pays homage to the pharmaceutical tradition but also seeks to educate and amaze everyone who steps inside. In this museum, every bottle and every shelf tells a story—a story of dedication and passion for the wellbeing of the people in this region.

A journey through pharmaceutical history

The Doade Pharmacy Museum houses a collection of 4,000 objects and documents that reflect the evolution of pharmacology and the art of healing throughout the 20th century: ancient utensils, raw materials, a variety of containers, laboratory equipment, and timeworn recipes that have endured through the ages. Every piece is a witness to a legacy that deserves to be remembered and valued, making this museum a time capsule of pharmaceutical heritage.

A ceremony with distinguished guests

The opening ceremony featured speeches from the three pharmacists who brought this project to life: Miguel Álvarez Soaje, Nicanor Floro Andrés Rodríguez, and Luis Serantes García. The event, led by Beariz’s mayor, Manuel Prado, saw the attendance of numerous representatives from the pharmaceutical sector in Galicia, including the Official Colleges of Pharmacists from A Coruña, Pontevedra, Ourense, and Lugo, the Galician Academy of Pharmacy, and pharmaceutical distribution cooperatives (COFANO and BIDAFARMA). The pharmaceutical industry was represented by Laboratorio Normon, and Mr. Cecilio J. Venegas, the Director of the Spanish Historical Pharmaceutical Heritage Inventory and Vice President of the Asociación Española de Farmacéuticos de Letras y Artes (AEFLA), was also present. Additionally, Enrique Bellver from the Commission of Academia and Pharmacy, and Ana Belén Cubells, representing the prestigious Valencia Pharmacists’ Association (MICOF)—which is also a member of Aromas Itinerarium Salutis—attended the event. Local media coverage included TVE Galicia and La Voz de Galicia. Institutional representatives included Ms. Sandra Quintas, Regional Director of Culture in Ourense, and Ms. Ana Torres Madureira, representing the Ourense Provincial Council.

Inauguration of the Doade Pharmacy-Museum (24/10/2024) © Photo credits: MICOF

The pharmacy museum and the European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens

Pharmacist Miguel Álvarez Soaje, a member of the Steering Committee of the Aromas Itinerarium Salutis Association, spoke about the efforts made over the past year by this association and the Beariz City Council to incorporate the Doade pharmacy into the “European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens” in early 2025. This cultural initiative, one of 48 itineraries connecting cultural heritage elements across Europe, includes secular, hospital, and monastic pharmacies, historic libraries, and medicinal gardens. Álvarez Soaje also noted that on September 27, 2024, this route was awarded prestigious certification and recognition by the Council of Europe in Hungary, in accordance with its certification criteria, underscoring the project’s importance on the European cultural scene.

A medicinal garden Project in Beariz

The restoration of the Doade pharmacy is an exemplary initiative in Galicia, highlighting the importance of documenting, studying, and preserving this often-overlooked cultural heritage. Thanks to the efforts of Miguel Álvarez Soaje, Galicia now boasts several similar initiatives. Additionally, the Beariz City Council recently informed the Aromas Itinerarium Salutis Association of its intention to establish a medicinal garden near the Doade pharmacy, aiming to revive the significance of this natural heritage for small communities. Such initiatives align with the goals of our association and the European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens.

Closing Ceremony and Visit to the Museum

Following the inaugural ceremony, attendees toured the pharmacy-museum. The day concluded with a meal provided by the Beariz City Council at the Casa Rectoral, officially marking the opening of this new heritage site to the public.