Ordine Secolare Carmelitani Scalzi

The Ordine Secolare Carmelitani Scalzi is the secular (lay) branch associated with the Discalced Carmelites. The group is connected with the Antica Farmacia di Santa Maria della Scala in Trastevere, Rome, a historic pharmacy dating to the late 1500s that offers guided visits.

The Discalced Carmelites are a Roman Catholic reform branch founded in the 16th century (associated with St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross). The Secular Order comprises lay members affiliated with the Discalced Carmelite tradition. The Antica Farmacia di Santa Maria della Scala is located in Trastevere, Rome.

The Antica Farmacia di Santa Maria della Scala in Trastevere is a historic pharmacy tied to the Discalced Carmelite community, built at the end of the 1500s. Visits are by reservation and guided by a Discalced Carmelite, showing period furnishings, original preparations (including Theriaca and l'Acqua Antipestilenziale) and the convent's herb collections. The reviewer describes a ~40 minute tour, costing 5 euros, and recommends the visit.

For:Travelers in Rome; history and religious heritage enthusiasts; visitors interested in historic pharmacies and medicinal traditions.