The Farmacia Johnson stands out with its bold, dark-stained mahogany shelving that climbs all the way to the high, coffered ceilings. Founded in eighteen eighty-six by Theodore Johnson, the shop functioned as one of the most prominent…
Old Apothecaries and Healing
We walk through Old Havana's beautifully preserved 19th-century pharmacies to explore how traditional homeopathics, herbal remedies, and Afro-Cuban spiritual cures remain central to modern Cuban life.
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1. farmacia Jhonson
2. Museum of Pharmacy Habanera
The Museum of Pharmacy Habanera features a facade painted in a deep, vibrant ochre, punctuated by tall wooden shutters and ornate wrought iron balconies. Inside, thousands of porcelain apothecary jars line floor-to-ceiling mahogany…
3. Museo Farmacia Taquechel
The Museo Farmacia Taquechel features a facade of dark wood shelves stretching to the ceiling, crowded with rows of white ceramic apothecary jars. The shop began as a pharmacy in eighteen ninety-eight, founded by Rafael Taquechel, who…
4. Habana 1791 (Museo Del Perfume)
Habana seventeen ninety-one sits in an eighteenth-century colonial house, defined by its high, carved wooden doors and an interior courtyard filled with glass perfume bottles. It functions as a working laboratory where pharmacists blend…
5. Iglesia y Convento de la Merced
The Iglesia y Convento de la Merced stands out for its high, yellow facade and two heavy towers that anchor the corner of Calle Cuba and Calle Merced. Built by the Mercedarian friars in the mid eighteenth century, it replaced a smaller,…
6. Botanica Eyeife
Botanica Eyeife features a bright, painted facade that stands out against the weathered limestone of the surrounding Old Havana streets. It serves as a central hub for those practicing Santeria, offering the herbs, candles, and ritual…