A
strategic area for arrivals and departures is the Santa Maria Novella
railway station, a unique match between old churches, noble palaces
and common buildings. Antiques, interior designers and luxury hotels
in Borgo Ognissanti stand next to historical fried food shops and
African spices from ethnic groceries in Via Palazzuolo.
The
Old Pharmacy
On Via della Scala lies a place that seems to come
from out of time. Europe’s oldest perfumery developed from the
Black Friars and their skills in herbalism dating back from before
the fourteenth century. A visit to this historical and monumental
shop is absolutely a must. You do not need to buy, but you will be
conquered by the square footage, the high ceilings, and the beautiful
rooms.
A
Look on the Contemporary World
Piazza della Repubblica, a look on
today’s world, is only five minutes walking. Yet the streets of the
Santa Maria Novella quarter shift our attention from Renaissance to
modern days. Despite many historical buildings with architectural
inventions, this part of town is not for those who want to imagine
people riding buggies. Here people use motorcycles, rush to reach the Todo Modo bookshop and cafeteria in Via de Fossi for a cultural event, take a friend for a taste of the real Florentine steak in the small trattorias.
