Antica Farmacia Cartia is a preserved early-20th-century pharmacy at Via Francesco Mormino Penna, 24, in Scicli. Its original wooden counter, Art Nouveau cabinets, glass medicine jars and laboratory instruments show how a family pharmacy once worked. The small museum is also a filming location associated with the Inspector Montalbano series. A short guided visit adds stories about the pharmacy and Scicli; tickets can also be paired with entry to Palazzo Spadaro across the street.
A pharmacy preserved in Scicli
Antica Farmacia Cartia preserves a family pharmacy that first opened in 1902. The shop was later moved to the lower floors of Palazzo Spadaro, at Via Francesco Mormino Penna, 24. Its interior has been kept as a museum, with original furnishings and equipment that give the small space its distinctive character.
The pharmacy is associated with the Cartia family, whose shop tells part of Scicli’s local history. The furnishings were made for the pharmacy by local carpenter and cabinetmaker Emanuele Russino. The result is an intact period interior rather than a room of objects removed from their original setting.
The counter, cabinets and pharmacy tools
Inside, look for the wooden counter and the tall cabinets filled with old glass bottles and remedies. Apothecary jars, medical instruments and laboratory equipment show the range of work carried out in a pharmacy in the early 1900s. The Art Nouveau furniture is a central part of the visit, with its crafted woodwork still in place.
The museum is compact, so the display can be seen in a short stop. A guide can add context about the objects and the pharmacy’s past; taking time to listen makes more of the visit than simply looking around.
A filming location and a nearby pairing
Antica Farmacia Cartia also appeared in the Inspector Montalbano television series. It is one of several Scicli locations connected with the show, and the pharmacy remains a working piece of the town’s heritage rather than a set built for filming.
Palazzo Spadaro stands across the street, and combined tickets have been available for both places. Check the current arrangements before setting out, since the supplied information gives differing details about the pharmacy’s entry charge.
FAQ
How long do you need at Antica Farmacia Cartia?
The display takes about 10 minutes to see. Allow extra time if you want to hear the guide’s stories.
What can you see inside Antica Farmacia Cartia?
The preserved pharmacy contains its original wooden counter and cabinets, apothecary jars, laboratory equipment and medical instruments.
Is Antica Farmacia Cartia connected to Inspector Montalbano?
Yes. The pharmacy was used as a filming location for the Inspector Montalbano series.
Can you visit Palazzo Spadaro on the same ticket?
Combined tickets for Antica Farmacia Cartia and Palazzo Spadaro across the street have been available. Check current ticket arrangements before your visit.
