Discover Sansepolcro’s Unique Herb Museum: A Hidden Gem in Tuscany

Sansepolcro, a small town in Tuscany, is famous for Piero della Francesca’s painting “The Resurrection.” During World War II, artillery officer Tony Clarke saved the town from shelling by stopping the Allies. He later had a street named after him.

I visited Sansepolcro while on a writing retreat nearby. On a rainy day, I discovered the Aboca Museum, which focuses on herbs. This museum claims to be the only indoor herb museum in the world and is located in a Renaissance palace. A stone with the words “prodest-obest” (helps-harms) greets visitors at the entrance.

Inside the museum, I explored nine high-ceilinged rooms filled with fascinating items. Among the displays were ancient papyruses and small glass containers. The air was rich with the scents of dried herbs like chamomile and calendula. The room showcasing a 16th-century storeroom featured hanging herbs and various apothecary tools.

The museum highlights the practices of herb collectors, who gathered plants at specific times to maximize their medicinal properties. For example, mandrakes were harvested during full moons. Although the museum does not address women’s roles in this history, women traditionally gathered herbs and passed down their knowledge. Their contributions were often overshadowed, and the term “old wives” became synonymous with myth.

As I wandered, I recalled my childhood herb garden. The museum filled me with inspiration about seasonal plants and the importance of preserving them. Even in winter, we can rely on the preserved fruits and herbs from the summer.

After my visit, I returned home with ideas to extend the use of my own herbs. Fennel, typically seen as decorative, can also add scent and flavor to linens. I reflected on the potential for other plants in my garden as well.

With this new understanding, I appreciated the plants I had initially grown for their looks. Sweet woodruff and hollyhocks can be used in culinary creations. I learned not only to see herbs differently but to explore their practical uses and benefits in my cooking and home remedies.