Santa Maria Novella

A true delight for the senses is Santa Maria Novella in Antwerp.  The young Italian man who runs the place moved to Antwerp 8 years ago to study at the Fashion Academy. He explains that the story of his store goes way back. The ‘casa madre’ in Firenze, as he calls it, was originally a pharmacy founded by Dominican friars shortly after 1221, the year of their arrival in Florence. The pharmacy used medicinal herbs grown in the monastic gardens to make medications, balms and pomades for the monks' infirmary. It was in full operation as a commercial establishment by the mid 16th century.  It is said that the products are still manufactured based on the centuries-old techniques used by the Dominican friars.  The shop exudes elegance and good taste. The visitor comes out smelling like clover, sandalwood, citrus, bergamot or as their favorite soap, pomegranate.

Santa Maria Novella
Augustijnenstraat 39

2000 Antwerp

www.smnovella.it 

Strings and Things

For drums and guitars, Antwerp is the place: "Strings and Things" has it all.…

Jan Meijers is one of the two owners. He is a bass guitarist, who in the earlier days played with a band named Blueblood. He now plays regularly with different bands that happen to need a bassist

“Looking for the authentic drumsound of the roaring 20ies, golden 60ies, psychedelic 70ies, hardrocking 80ies or pumping 90ies ? We have it..”

Blue and Yellow

 As the “B” on the vest is the same as the one on the train in the second picture (you have to look for it!), it is reasonable to conclude that these two men work for the Belgian railroad and not for Ikea as the colors might suggest.