First the vision starts to blur, then the throbbing headache and a feeling of disorientation and finally come the words all the churches have started to look the same…

The Stendhal effect is what happens to your brain after seeing too many beautiful things. The fact is that there comes a point when your brain just shuts off and things just start to blend together. There comes a point when it is just not fun any more.

The best way to avoid the Stendhal effect is to be clear about what you need to see and budget your time accordingly. We would suggest seeing no more than three major sites to see in a day, you are better seeing slightly fewer things in a relaxed way. Try to group them relatively close to one another and you can see the minor sites in the area. (For example : Saint Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, and Castel Sant'Angelo. )

Always make sure to sit down, rest and absorb what you have seen. Go to a bar and have a cup of espresso (café), a glass of champagne (prosecco) or even just a glass of water (l’aqua da rubinetto for tap water, or l’aqua frizzante for bubbly water). The most important thing is to stay rested, remember it is a vacation not a mission.