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Private Guided Visit of Florence Santa Maria Novella Basilica and its Officina Profumo Farmaceutica

Florence, Italy
Private Guided Visit of Florence Santa Croce Basilica and its ancient Leather School

From $114.12

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

Enjoy an in-depth private look at one of Florence's prettiest Renaissance churches and its ancient pharmacy with this Basilica of Santa Maria Novella tour. Then, tour the basilica's charming Cloisters, decorated with frescoes by Paolo Uccello, and explore an ancient pharmaceutical workshop.
  • Learn about the founding of the church in the 13th century
  • See works of art inside the church by Ghirlandaio, Giotto, and more
  • Admire the peaceful Green Cloister with frescoes by Paolo Uccello
  • Visit the historic Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy in its original building

What's Included

  • Local professional Guide at your side
  • Earphones for groups of more than 7 participants
  • Basilica admission ticket to be paid on the spot: Adult: € 7,50; ages 11-17: € 5,00; 10 and under free
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratuities
  • Everything not mentioned as Included

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
    P.za di Santa Maria Novella, 18, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

    Starting Time: Morning Option at 10:00 am - Afternoon Option at 02.30 pm Meeting with the guide at the entrance of Santa Maria Novella Basilica

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Meet your guide outside the entrance of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. Admire its multi-colored marble facade overlooking a pretty piazza.

Inside the church, learn about the 'mendicant order' of Dominican friars who founded the church in the early 13th century. Look for important pieces of art, such as frescoes by Filippino Lippi and Ghirlandaio, the 'Trinity' by Masaccio, and the 'Crucifix' by Giotto.

Make your way to the adjoining Green Cloister, which takes its name from the dominant color in the frescoes painted by Paolo Uccello. Continue on to the oldest pharmacy still in operation in the world, the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella – also known as the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy.

Originally founded in 1612 under the influence of Cosimo I de' Medici and his successors, the pharmacy workshop was focused on making ointments and balms from medicinal plants and herbs. Today, the pharmacy also creates unique perfumes and soaps using old recipes. Marvel at the interior of the pharmacy, which is still in the original building with vaulted ceilings and frescoes on the walls.

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Operated by CAF Tour and Travel

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.0
8 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-5 of 8 reviews
Santa Maria Novella Basilica- Bellisimo!
XiomaraM_L, Apr 2024
Andrea was very competent and attentive to my questions. Punctuality and professionalism was very much appreciated. I was very impressed with my tour, and of the beauty and history that I discovered. The perfume pharmacy was my highlight! Thank you Andrea ,for helping me to take photos, as I was the only guest. Just perfect! Molte Grazie!
Disappointing lack of information regarding the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica.
ken_m, Oct 2023
The guide , Marcello, was very informative regarding the Basilica. However we had also expected at least 30 minutes talk/tour of the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica as per our booking. We received very little information , and very rushed, from Marcello regarding the Farmaceutica. This was a shame as my wife wanted to learn about the Farmaceutica. Ken Mathews
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Good afternoon from Caf Tour & Travel, Dear Ken, thank you so much for sharing your review on Viator. We regret to hear our tour did not fully meet your expectations. We understand that you were hoping for a more extensive and detailed tour of the Officina, and we will absolutely address this matter with our guide, Marcello, and work towards ensuring that future tours strike a better balance between the Santa Maria Novella Basilica and the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica. Both sites hold historical significance, and we want our visitors to have a well-rounded experience that showcases the unique offerings of both places. Probably the guide dedicated more time to the Basilica because of its great importance in Florence's history and culture. We hope to have the possibility to welcoming you again in one of our activities, Best regards
Excellent experience. We recommend it.
Roberto_F, Jul 2023
We were very happy for doing this tour. We did not know a lot about Santa Novella church before the tour, just that is had been important as the Pope residence during a time, and for housing one of the oldest pharmacies in the world. The tour was excellent, with a guide, Andrea, that is really an expert. We leart a lot. Capilla Tournaboni is amazing, and Spanish influence is clearly shown in other parts of the complex. The pharmacy today is a nice shop. We strongly recommend this tour.
Excellent Tour!
Kitty_K, Jun 2023
Laura was our guide for a private tour of Santa Novella. She was very knowledgeable and kind. We very much wanted to see Plautilla Nelli’s Last Supper and she helped us locate it, and we stood admiring its newly restored beauty. We visited the Perfumery and learned about its history. Such a fascinating spot, and not to be missed when visiting Florence. Our whole visit was brought to life by our excellent guide. Brava, Laura!
La visita de la farmacia...
Lola_M, Sep 2022
La visita de la farmacia no merece la pena. Al menos no es lo que yo esperaba Punto de venta de colonias y artículos de cosmética El edificio como el resto de la iglesia sí es interesante

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