The Golden Head Apothecary
The Golden Head Apothecary (“La Testa D’Oro”), was located almost opposite the Church of San Bartolomeo, close to the San Marco side of the Rialto Bridge. It is a very busy area, full of souvenir stalls and shops and the small golden head being 5 metres off the ground; is easily overlooked. It is all that remains of the site of the most important and famous old pharmacies or spezieria (spicery) of Venice; renowned for the quality of its Teriaca production. The bronze head, functioned to identify the shop to the largely illiterate population of that time.
Teriaca – the Divine Potion to “cure all evils”, was produced by apothecaries under license from the Venetian State. Out of the ninety apothecaries in Venice, only about forty were licensed to produce it under strict rules. The license holders who were known as “teriacanti”, made the potion on the street in bronze cauldrons; carefully watched by the public and state officials.
The production of Teriaca was considered to be a noble art; meaning Apothecaries could marry into Patrician families!
Teriaca production
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The Golden Head Apothecary – Teriaca production
Beneath the head on the wall, there lies a fragment of an inscription referencing the “Theriaca d’Andromacho,” (teriaca) a purported universal remedy believed to be effective against numerous ailments.
Teriaca production began in 1603, and the remedy’s quality was deemed so superior that the Venetian State granted permission for its production thrice annually, in contrast to other licensed apothecaries who were only allowed once.
Apothecaries were required to display all ingredients outside their shops for three days before commencing production. The primary ingredient, derived from vipers, was reputed to have rejuvenating effects on aging skin. Snakes were gathered from late spring to summer and housed in lattice cages, entertaining the public.
The Venetians earned a reputation for the high quality and effectiveness of their state-licensed and regulated product, securing an international market.
However, in the 1940s, new pharmaceutical regulations led to the ban of opium, an analgesic ingredient, rendering the original recipe obsolete.
Remnants of the historical production process seen today
Today, you can still see traces of the historical production process can be seen at various locations:
- In the San Marco district, across from the pharmacy at the junction of Calle Spezier and Campo Santa Stefano, three circular depressions in the pavement indicate where cauldrons were once positioned.
- At the Museum of the 18th Century in Ca’ Rezzonico, a restored ancient pharmacy displays artifacts from the past era.
- Finally, in the Cannaregio district, outside the “Alle Due Colonne” Pharmacy, an additional depression in the ground signifies a former site of Teriaca production.
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Interested to read about or visit all the remaining old pharmacies iin Venice and the legend and production of Teriaca? Click the link to see my other related posts:
Pharmacy in the Museum of the 18th Century at Ca Rezzonica
The four Great Hospitals of Venice, that were also internationally acclaimed musical establishments
Established in 1423 and 1468, Lazzaretto Vecchio and Lazzaretto Nuovo respectively, were Venice’s first isolation hospital and quarantine facilities; firstly for leprosy, then the bubonic plague and also for isolation of ships, crew and goods.
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