Stendhal syndrome, also known as Florence syndrome, is considered a psychosomatic disorder that tends to affect particularly sensitive people.
This occurs when, in a short period of time, we continually admire a lot of works of art, experiencing a kind of overdose of artistic beauty, the origin of this pathology lies in the person who observes art and not the object itself. Admiration for artistic works has a wide variety of subjective interpretations and assessments that depend on the culture and context in which each person lives.
- Groups of neurologists explain how excessive mental pleasure when seeing wonderful works can end up becoming a great malaise.
- Symptoms are usually physical and psychological: sweating.
- Palpitations.
- Dizziness.
- Blurred vision.
- Feelings of stress and anxiety.
- Hallucinations.
- Feelings of euphoria and even depression can also occur.
- If any.
The first to write about this disease is the French writer Stendhal, who described his personal experience during a visit to Florence, Italy; however, psychiatrist Graziela Magherini, after studying several cases of tourists visiting Florence in the 1970s, definitively defined the disease as a syndrome.
It usually develops in artistically iconic cities. Florence, Rome or Venice are the best known examples of cases that have already occurred. The controversy offered by some psychologists describes the suggestion that accompanies many tourists already familiar with this disease as the only reason. responsible for this syndrome.
Stendhal syndrome has become a romantic reference and can occur where there is a high concentration of beauty (painting, music, poetry, etc. ), to the point that it is impossible to resist the intense influence it causes on the affected person.