During the Serenissima, Venice had many pharmacies, which were a notable part of the economy of the city. The most important product was theriac, which Venice exported both east and west for centuries.

These are some of the ancient pharmacies in Venice, some of which still exist today. The list is incomplete. It is simply the ones I have noticed during my reading.

Many monasteries, which also ran hospitals, had internal pharmacies, which sometime competed with the commercial shops.

Like most other shops, the speziali or pharmacists had an identifying shop sign outside. Venice in the time of the republic didn’t have a system of house numbers, so an address was something like “At the Bridge of the Hatters, under the sign of the Ostrich.”

Pharmacies changed owner, moved location, closed, changed signs, and sometimes recycled or took over abandoned signs, so not all the pharmacies listed below existed at all times, or in the same place.

Triacanti

• All’Aquila Negra (at the Black Eagle) — near San Salvador.
• Alla Campana (at the Bell).
• Del Cedro Imperiale (of the Imperial Citron) — in Campo San Luca (later united with La Vecchia).
• Ai Do Marchi † (at the Two Marks) — in Campo San Stin, now on display at Ca’ Rezzonico.
• Alle Due Colonne (at the Two Columns)— in Campo San Canzian.
• Ai Due Mori † (at the Two Moors) — in Calle dei Stagneri.
• S. Gierolamo (St Hieronymus).
• Del Griffo (of the Griffin).
• Dell’Lupo Coronato (of the Crowned Wolf) — in Campo Filippo e Giacomo.
• Della Madonna (of the Madonna) — in Campo San Bartolomeo.
• Del Medico (of the Physician).
• Dell’Orso (of the Bear) — in Campo Santa Maria Formosa.
• Al Paradiso (at Paradise) — in Riva del Vin, adjacent Calle del Paradiso.
• Del Pellegrin (of the Pilgrim) — Campo San Lio.
• Al Pomo d’Argento (at the Silver Apple) — in Calle dei Stagneri.
• Del Redentore † (of the Redeemer) — in Calle Larga di San Marco.
• Allo Struzzo d’Oro † (of the Golden Ostrich) — at the Ponte dei Baretteri.
• Alla Testa d’Oro † (of the Golden Head) — at the Rialto Bridge.
• Ai Tre Monti † (at the Three Mounts) — in Campo Sant’Aponal.
• Della Vecchia (of the Old Woman) — in Campo San Luca (later united with Il Cedro Imperiale).
• San Teodoro (St Theodore) — in Campo Santo Stefano.

Other pharmacies

• Abramo (Abraham) — in Merceria.
• Al Centauro † (at the Centaur) — in Campo della Guerra.
• Al Calice † (at the Chalice) — in Calle del Calice, at Sant’Agostin.
• Del Dose † (of the Doge) — in Calle del Doge, near Riva degli Schiavoni (later united with Del General).
• Dei Due Pavoni † (of the Two Peacocks) — in Salizada San Francesco.
• Ai Due Perseghi d’Oro † (at the Two Golden Peaches) — at Santa Sofia.
• Ercole Trionfante (Hercules Triumphant) — at Santa Fosca.
• La Fortuna † (Good Luck) — at San Moisè.
• Del General † (of the General) — In Riva degli Schiavoni (later united with Il Doge).
• Al Mondo (at the World or Globe) — in the Frezzeria or at the Ospedaletto.
• Del Morion † (of the Helmet) — in Calle del Morion, near San Francesco della Vigna.
• S. Domenico † (St. Domingo) — in Calle delle Rasse.
• Della Madonna della Salute † (of Our Lady of Healty) — at San Moisè.
• Della Sanità (of Health). †
• Dei Tre Santi † (of the Three Saints) — in Campiello delle Stroppe.

Related articles

Related sources

• A Theriac recipe (1734).
• The preparation of Theriac — two prints (1600s).
• Teriaca — Theriac — Lessico Veneto.

Related images