Farmacia Molteni

The Molteni pharmacy, whose existence was well documented since the late 13th century, is still situated in its historic building, between Via Calzaioli and Via Porta Rossa, at the corner formerly known as "Canto al Diamante" (deriving its name from the pharmacy diamond-shaped shop-sign).

It is even said that Dante - a member of the Physicians and Pharmacists Guild (Arte dei Medici e degli Speziali) - had frequented this pharmacy and that it served many powerful families over the centuries. The pharmacy took its present name in 1892. Pharmacist Alfredo Alitti created an in-house laboratory where, for the first time in Italy, he started the production of sterile phials for hypodermic use and "Steridrolo Molteni", a device used by the Italian army during the African campaign.

Situated on the ground floor of the medieval “Palazzo di Calimala”, the pharmacy has retained only its bearing structure, while the present decoration scheme with cross vaults and golden stuccoes against a cream-colored background dates from the 19th century, as well as the wooden furnishings with inlay work and gold decorations created by the Florentine sculptor Giovanni Duprè.