The Foletto Pharmaceutical Museum
A timeless pharmacy in Valle di Ledro
Not far from the shores of Lake Ledro lies a place where time has preserved the charm of a black-and-white photograph: the historic Foletto pharmacy. This is no ordinary pharmacy—it’s a legacy handed down through generations, nestled in the village of Pieve di Ledro. Long ago, locals would bring herbs from the nearby forests to be transformed into remedies by the apothecary. Today, those same rooms house a museum that honours that tradition, offering visitors a deep dive into the region’s medicinal past.
Depending on the theme you choose, a visit to the museum can last from one to three hours—but what you’ll take away lasts far longer.
When the author first heard about the museum, they reacted with a raised eyebrow and a hint of scepticism. Pharmacies, after all, are usually places we rush in and out of—between a headache and a cure. But this museum rewrites that narrative. It’s not just about looking at antique jars and tools. It’s about stepping into the world of apothecaries—when pharmacists dressed in black and blended knowledge, tradition and local wisdom to heal.
Among the shelves of jars and bottles, what truly emerges is love: for the profession, the land, and the people it serves. Founded in December 2000 by Achille Foletto, the museum showcases the family’s pharmaceutical and botanical heritage, dating back to the mid-1800s. It all began with Angelo Foletto, a young student who meticulously catalogued thousands of local plant species—laying the foundation for the Foletto legacy.
Today, that legacy lives on in themed sections that offer something for everyone—from curious visitors to history buffs.
One of the most captivating parts of the museum is the herbarium: a treasure chest of medicinal knowledge that gives new meaning to the word healing. The section on tools and machines—alembics, pestles and more—immerses visitors in a world you might expect to see only in documentaries.
But this isn’t just about observing. You can roll up your sleeves and take part in workshops that recreate the work of pharmacists throughout the ages. Make your own creams, flower-scented soaps, lozenges or syrups using age-old machines and herbs from the nearby garden.
The visit often ends on a delicious note: a tasting of homemade liqueurs produced directly on site with zero-kilometre ingredients. These are not just drinks—they’re a sip of tradition. Combined with the museum’s antique furnishings and original tools, the experience paints a vivid picture of those who have long worked for the health of their community.
In the end, the Foletto Museum is more than a display of old objects—it’s a living story of healing, curiosity and care. A unique way to understand one of the many souls of the Ledro Valley.
This article was originally published in the first issue of BLU, the Garda Trentino magazine, in 2023. Since then, the Foletto Museum has been revamped with a new layout—but the magic you breathe in among the vintage machines, the pages of the herbarium, and the scents of the lab is still the same. Want to visit? Entry is free with your Garda Guest Card – and you also get a discount if you join one of the workshops!
