Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella has endured the rise and fall of various ... It all began in 1221, when a group of Dominican friars in Florence began cultivating herbs and plants ...

The perfumery is still attached to the 13th-century Dominican monastery where mediaeval monks concocted fragrances and herbal remedies. The monks have since sold out and today Santa Maria Novella ...

Recent travelers note that the church museum is also worth exploring, and that even roaming the grounds of Santa Maria Novella can be worth the time and effort due to the natural beauty found on ...