What is Florence Syndrome?
Stendhal Syndrome - Florence syndrome is a psychosomatic disorder, which is often manifested in the tourists who visit the beautiful Florence.
This syndrome is formed when a person is exposed to the influence of art or is in a place where a large number of works of art are gathered.
Stendhal syndrome is characterized by the following symptoms:
- rapid heartbeat
- dizziness
- sweating
- disorientation
- fainting
- hallucination
The syndrome was named in honor of the French writer Stendhal - he described in his book the feeling he experienced while traveling in Florence.
It is noteworthy that there has been a difference of opinion on the syndrome over the years, and medical conferences also remember the heated debate on the subject. However, one thing is for sure - this magical city has such a strong emotional impact on some tourists that certain symptoms appear in the body.
The syndrome was officially named in 1979, although some visitors to Florence still experience these symptoms.
In 1979, Dr. Graziella Magherini worked as the Chief of Psychiatry at the Hospital of Santa Maria Nuova in Florence.
After observing more than 100 tourists who were hospitalized after looking at art in Florence, she coined the term Stendhal Syndrome.
In 1989, she published a book about these tourists, who experienced a range of symptoms that included anxiety, panic attacks, hallucinations, and even psychotic episodes—all after seeing renowned artwork. Describing the patients she observed, Magherini said they were sensitive, emotional people who essentially "overdosed" on art.
Because Florence has so much famous artwork on display, tourists tend to squeeze in as much art as they can in a few days. Victims are typically impressionable, single people between 26 and 40 years old, who are stressed by travel and may be struggling with jet lag. Of the people she studied who were hospitalized, about half had prior treatment for mental illness—although "prior treatment" could simply mean that someone attended weekly therapy sessions.
It should also be noted that some tourists get tired easily due to travel and often have sleep problems while staying in another country.
Stendhal Syndrome once again attracted the attention of the world press a few years ago, namely, a tourist suffered a heart attack (heart attack) after visiting Botticelli's masterpieces while visiting the Uffizi Gallery.
According to some psychologists, it is quite possible for a work of art to provoke the subconscious, sensation and memory in a sensitive human body.
Source:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/71801/stendhal-syndrome-overdosing-beautiful-art
