The oldest business in the Spanish capital has more than 400 to and it is a pharmacy. Now, it is not just any one, but the one known as the Queen Mother Pharmacylocated on Calle Mayor in Madrid, a few meters from the Sun Gate.
Origen
Its history dates back to the end of the 16th centurymore specifically al ao 1578, when it was founded by an alchemist Valencian in the service of Philip II known as Juan Bautista Juanini. In its beginnings, the pharmacy was called Botica de la Corte and was known for their remedies and creams.
Now, after Juanini’s death, the pharmacy was led by Melchor de Heredia, who renamed it Queen Mother’s PharmacyIn honor to Maria Christina of Habsburgwife Felipe V. Throughout his more than 400 years of history, the pharmacy has witnessed hundreds of historical events.
The great attraction
Yes, and he has also served members of the nobility, aristocracy and Spanish culture. Among them highlight Lope de Vega, Francisco de Quevedo, Pedro Calderón de la Barca and Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares. All of them very well known in our country.
Although it retains much of its original decoration, including cheap furnitureold pharmacy bottles and a medicine cabinet, its great attraction is the basement, which has a tunnel-passage that was formerly used to communicate with the Royal Palace.
Diversity of hypotheses
Those, the theories son many different: it could be the shortcut used by the palace staff to acquire medicines that they needed – it is said that the wife of Felipe V, Elizabeth of FarneseI preferred to go to this pharmacy instead of trusting the palace pharmacists – or the resource that us Luis Candelas to escape.
Currently, The Queen Mother Pharmacy continues to operate as a pharmacybut it has also become an attractive tourist and a place of cultural reference in Madrid. Each of they stop at the door between 200 and 300 tourists, Jos Daniel Jimnez explainedowner of the pharmacy since 2016, to The Reason.
Other information of interest
And not only that: the pharmacy offers guided tours in which you can learn about its history, its decoration and its products ms emblemticos. As of today, It has a staff of six people and is open 365 days a year..
In 2013, it should be noted, the Queen Mother Pharmacy was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest by Madrid’s community for its value historical and your library specialized in pharmacy and medicine. A true treasure in the heart From the capital.
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