On Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni, in Via Antinori, a curious inscription can be read above the windows: “Per non dormire” (So as not to sleep). This was the motto of the Salimbeni family, and there are two different explanations behind these words.
Popular legend tells of a cunning plan. It is said that a member of the family wanted to purchase a precious shipment of goods before his competitors. The evening before the deal, he invited his rivals to dinner and slipped opium into their wine. The next morning, while his rivals were still fast asleep, he finalized the deal alone.
The historical version, on the other hand, suggests that the motto simply describes the Salimbeni family’s dedication to their work: they were so industrious that they “never slept” in order to stay ahead of the competition.
However, one mysterious detail remains: the family’s coat of arms features three poppies—the flowers from which opium is derived. Is it just a coincidence, or proof that the legend of the drugged wine is true? The doubt continues to fascinate Florentines to this day.
