It was July 9, 1582, when in Leverano, a town found in the heart of Salento (Apulia), an agreement was being signed. The Magnificent Pompeo Fapane and Pantaleone Vitagliano, an apothecary from Oliceto (Matera), were discussing about the management of the Fapane apothecary, located in the public square: they agreed that Pantaleone would run the shop for four years, to then return it along with the same thirty ducats he was lent to improve the brand new shop’s business.
A curious inventory was attached to the formalised contract: eight pages of medicines and equipment testify the ‘Leveranese’ apothecary shop as very well stocked. Interestingly, among the documented items, you could also notice a long list of preparations, including syrups, honey, quince juice, oils of capers, myrtle, chamomile, and purgatives such as aloe and rock salt.
Being Leverano a relatively small town, especially at that time, doesn’t give us the right to think that its ancient apothecary only served the local population at all! The modest, but fully equipped shop also supplied the clergy of the medieval church, who purchased incense for sacred ceremonies.
As mentioned, the shop was found in the public square of Leverano: if you’re planning to visit this town, an Apulian pearl of culture, you’ll be probably wondering where to specifically find traces of the ancient apothecary. What we know is that the 1582 document states Pompeo Fapane's apothecary shop as located in the public square of Leverano. Additionally, though, Fapane apparently lived near the "Pietra Grossa" (big stone), a landmark still situated between current Via San Cosimo and Via Lunga: it is plausible, then, that the shop was located in the same area or near the town’s main square, which at the time was the vibrant center of commercial activity.
The apothecary of Leverano gives us a significant idea of what the pharmaceutical activity in 16th-century Italy was like, and how precious these shops were, not only for public health, but also for the developing scientific culture of the time.
The "Pietra Grossa"
- Photos by Silvia Maria Martina ti.supmacla|anitram.ms#| (February 2025)
- Locate the item on this [ Google Map]
Bibliography
- Cosimo A. Dell’Anna e Andrea Costantini. Leverano, ricerche documentarie (secc. XIII-XIX): Tomo II - Note d’archivio, tracce di storia e spicchi di memoria dal Medioevo all’Età Moderna, Prefazione di Mario Spedicato. Giorgiani Editore 2021.