Was in Florence this past April and couldn't find the pharmacy at the train station....and NO ONE working at the shops at the train station knew where it was. Was it down in the underground mall area? Going again next year....help?

A guidebook says it's located northwest of the Church of Santa Maria Novella on Via della Scalla 16N.

Laura, yes, it's definitely on Via della Scala. Don't recall the number though. It's closer to the Church Santa M.N. than to the train station, a walk of a couple of minutes, I'd say. Strange, nobody would know. You must have asked to wrong people then.

Laura, it's easy to miss!! It's on the left hand side of Via della Scalla as you walk with the train station at your back. <BR><BR>I wouldn't say that you asked the wrong people -- just that it's not the huge draw to the Florentines that it is to us tourists (and it is more than a little expensive).

If nothing has changed in the past few months, last time I had an urgency to buy tampons in Florence the pharmacy was still there. From the end of one of the platforms, look at the exit of the station and move left. Walk in that direction and you will find the left luggage. On your right you will have the MacDonalds and one stall tahat sells good Panino con porchetta (in case you get hungry at the station their panino are much better than the MacSkif stuff). on the left of the MacDonalds there is corridor and the side exit of the station. The pharmacy is right on the coridor and on the same side as the MacDonalds. Unless something has changed.

To clear up a little confusion, I think Alice gave the directions to a pharmacy in the station. But I think Laura is looking for the wonderful Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, located at 16N Bia della Scala, not far from the station.<BR>http://www.smnovella.it/

Why is that pharmacy special?

This is just one of the many reasons that I love this site! I would have never known such a wonder place existed if I had not read this post! I looked up the web address and read about the Pharmacy! What a treasure and I can't wait to see it someday! I love to visit pharmacies when in Europe, they have so many great treasures? Any one know of something special like this in Seville or Lisbon? We hope to be there next May.<BR><BR>

Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is located, in Fireze, at Via della Scala, 16 n. The telephone # is 0552302883. <BR><BR>If you start at the Church of Santa Maria Novella, you walk down the right hand side of Via Scala. The shop is unmarked and you have to look down at the stoop, which is marked with the crest of SMN. You will also notice the wood and glass doors with brass handles. <BR><BR>Another way to notice the shop is watching for large, expensive cars stopping in front of the shop and well-dressed women emerging and running in.<BR><BR>Almost everyone in Firenze knows of OPF SMN, but for some strange reason they don't like to tell people about it. I have seen this many times, having people say they don't know where it is, but when pressed they admit to knowing where it is and then say, "Oh, why do you want to go there? It is so expensive."<BR><BR>Laura, if you have any questions about OPF SMN email me. My family has been shopping here for over 100 years.

Betsy<BR><BR>This is what Laura asked:<BR>&lt;b&gt; couldn't find the pharmacy at the train station...&lt;/b&gt;. Ther eis one pharmacy at the traoin station and she asked at the train station for the pharmacy _at_ the train station and even guessed it was in the "galleria" mall. Therefore I answered literally to what she asked.

You're right, Alice. Her question is a little confusing. Is she looking for the pharmacy in the station or is she looking for Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, which seems more likely to me? At any rate, she has the info for either, thanks to the people who posted.

if you are looking for opf like everyone else thinks, just beware that there were scaffoldings over the store this past may which might hinder your view...also email them in advance to check their hrs...(yes they can reply in english)<BR><BR>however staff was quite snooty and it wasn't b'c we were dressing shabby...<BR><BR>also, they do have an office at naples (and i assume at major cities as well) but with all the naples bashing florence may be the way to go...<BR><BR><BR>

They also have a branch in Roma, just off the Piazza Navona. It is a wonderful place and we have always been greeted and assisted beautifully. The soaps and fragrances are exquisite. It is well worth a visit if you are in Florence or Rome. If you aren't planning a trip to Italy, Saks Fifth Avenue has recently started to carry some of the products.

If, on the other hand, they look a bit costly to you, chech for "la bottega verde" shops. The original shop is in Pienza but they have branches in all major cities of Italy, and they are the italian answer to "The body shop".<BR>www.bottegaverde.it

There are shops in the following cities:<BR>Roma, Venice, Lucca, Forte dei Marmi, Bologna, Castiglione della Pescaia, London, Paris, and Livorno. Also, Lafco, on Hudson St. in NYC, carries the entire line.<BR><BR>Snooty?? What?? I have never seen those ladies be anything but professional and polite, even to rude, rich Americans (two women from the Hamptons stand out in my mind) screaming over the price of lip moisturizer. I have run in the store in flip-flops and shorts and have received nothing but curteous service.<BR><BR>OPF SMN used to cater to the aristocracy, but ever since Thomas Harris mentioned it in HANNIBLE, every sot with a BMW and a Long Island attitude wants the almond soap. I think this is what the staff resents and is not used to dealing with, hence the snooty mien.<BR>

i usually define snooty when businesses fail to greet you, be it a nod, a hello, or an offer of help...as in my case when i was walking by the counter and the sales lady behind it (doing nothing btw) failed to acknowledge anyone...maybe i caught them in a bad day or perhaps it was b'c we weren't doing the wine tasting like the other patrons..<BR><BR>i didn't read hannibal but was opf in the movie? the one in film didn't resemble the real mccoy...<BR> <BR><BR>

Thank you all for the help on finding Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella next trip. Yes, *that's the one I was interested in finding.<BR><BR>As always, this place is GREAT!<BR>

Please pardon my spelling as I sat on my reading glasses and am having a very hard time seeing my computer screen.<BR><BR>I think another problem with OPF SMN in Firenze is that the prices are not on the products. Many tourists come in to shop and become intimidated because they are afraid to constantly be asking, "How much is this? How much is that?"<BR><BR>People who know what they want, who know the product line, who don't care about prices, are probably better received. Maybe I am treated better because I go in with a list??<BR><BR>I have been ordering products from the store on Walton St in London for years, and have gotten to know the staff from speaking over the phone. I honestly think they are all devoted employees who will do what ever they can to help those who truely appreciate the products of OPF SMN.<BR><BR>I am sure, Mike, that if you told the staff in Firenze that you came all the way from America because you can't sleep at night without the smell of their pot-pourri wafting through your home, you would have received a smile.

John and other OPF SMN shoppers, there's a list of all their products with their prices available for you to use while you shop. There were no lists in English day I was there, however, so I had to make do with the French list. Look for them just inside the door to the first room you enter after walking through the hallway.

JOhn G - dumb question I know - can you give us examples of what they sell? is it just beauty products?