Pharmacy Museum

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The collection includes an authentic 18th-century pharmacy brought from the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil.

2. 2

   The museum holds a specialized collection of medicine chests specifically designed for the Portuguese Navy's long-distance voyages.

3. 3

   It displays an Egyptian sarcophagus, highlighting the earliest recorded instances of embalming and medicinal rituals.

4. 4

   The museum contains rare porcelain jars from the 17th and 18th centuries, once used to store medicinal herbs and ointments.

5. 5

   Some exhibits were curated to showcase the transition from traditional alchemy to modern pharmacological chemistry.

Overview

The Pharmacy Museum (Museu da Farmácia) in Lisbon chronicles the history of medicinal practice, spanning from ancient civilizations to the modern day. The collection highlights the evolution of pharmaceutical equipment, featuring a notable assembly of reconstructed 18th-century pharmacies from around the world. Visitors can examine an Egyptian sarcophagus and a series of historical artifacts, including medicine chests used on 16th-century Portuguese ships. The museum houses a replica of a space-age pharmacy, contrasting antique mortar and pestle sets with mid-20th-century technology. The institution is managed by the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society, ensuring a focus on the scientific and professional history of the apothecary craft. The permanent display includes items recovered from archaeological excavations and preserved colonial-era pharmacy interiors. It remains a specialized site for those interested in the history of science and medical professionalization.

Insider tips

• Start your tour on the upper floor to follow the chronological development of pharmaceutical history.

• Look for the detailed information plaques near the reconstructed international pharmacy interiors for context on historical medical practices.

• Visit the small courtyard space if you need a quiet area for reflection.