La Storia

It all began in 1533: Caterina de'Medici was about to marry and be crowned Queen of France. She asked the Dominican Friars of the Officina to create a special essence.

The Officina opened to the public in 1612. Friar Marchissi, the first director, came up with the formula of the renowned Balsamite-based Acqua Antisterica, today's Acqua di Santa Maria Novella Elisir..

Since becoming director in 1743, his wish was to join medicine and the pleasures of taste by creating exquisite liquors

At the end of the 18th century, in the buzz of Florence, the Green Room opened its doors to the city's nobles for chocolate and liqueur tastings.

Newly appointed director, he successfully opposed the Napoleonic suppressions and laid the foundations for an extensive renewal of the Officina.

Damiano Beni, responsible for carrying out the extensive renovation project envisioned by Friar Tommaso Valori, turned the former chapel of San Niccolò into the Grand Sales Hall we know today.

An eminent character of Florence, he was miraculously healed in 1335 by the friars of the Officina. To express his gratitude he funded the construction of the Chapel of San Niccolò, of which only the frescoed Sacristy remains.

From 1600 to 1848, the Sacristy of the old Chapel of San Niccolo (today's Sales Hall) was used to store the products of the distillation of plants and roses. The 2012 restoration truly made this room shine.

The large room adjacent to the Green Room, today dedicated to refreshments for visitors, housed traditional equipment for more than two centuries, and it was there that all the Officina’s products were created.

In 2014, the Officina inaugurated its garden, that supplies the raw materials for the traditional formulas.