Stendhal Syndrome

Possibly the most pretentious disorder in the history of the universe, Stendhal Syndrome causes symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations when an individual is exposed to an especially beautiful piece of art or a large amount of art is in one place. It is named after the famous 19th century French author Stendhal who described his experience with the phenomenon during his 1817 visit to Florence, Italy in his book Naples and Florence: A Journey from Milan to Reggio. To this day, Psychiatrists debate whether the illness truly exists, yet the effects on visitors to places such as Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio are serious enough to require treatment in the local hospital.