Is the great art of Florence dangerous to your health.
Stendhal syndromeis named after the French author Marie-Henri Beyle’s pen name Stendhal. In 1817, Beyle wrote how his heart racedand he felt scared when he saw all the great art in Florence, Italy. Florence has been famous for the arts since the Middle Ages. The wealthy Medici family funded many arts, and the Renaissancewas centered aroundthe city. But today, 500-year-old art can cause panic attacksfor a few visitors every year.
People with Stendhal syndrome were said to suffer from dizziness, heart palpitations, and hallucinations. They would often fall ill due to witnessing the art in person. However, some cases later turned out to be unrelated. In 2018, a man had aheart attack while looking at a piece by Botticelli. The case was initiallyconsidered an example of Stendhal syndrome but was later proven an unlucky heart attack. Being in a place surrounded by visitors might have saved the man’s life. Others noticed him, and he quickly got medical attention. What exactly causes this sickness is unknown, but maybe it has to do with travel. Both Paris and Jerusalem have reported similar illnesses among tourists.
