Canadian Tourist’s Midnight Hospital Visit in Florence Goes Viral

A Canadian tourist’s unexpected night at Santa Maria Nuova Hospital in Florence has gone viral after she shared the experience on Instagram. As Newsweek reported, 40-year-old Liana Swedahl injured her foot while walking in the city and sought treatment at the historic hospital, which has been serving Florentines and travelers alike since 1288.

What surprised Swedahl was not just the efficiency of the care, but the setting itself. Inside the emergency ward, she noticed Renaissance frescoes and artwork—reminders that this is one of the oldest hospitals in the world, deeply intertwined with Florence’s cultural heritage. Her short video post, which has since gained more than 230,000 views, shows the hospital’s 13th-century façade, the art-filled corridors, and her bandaged foot.

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The most remarkable moment, however, came after midnight, when the attending doctor not only administered a tetanus shot but also took time to offer a brief tour of the historic building. Swedahl wrote that she “wasn’t prepared for what the doctor did,” describing the gesture as both generous and surreal—combining medical assistance with an impromptu cultural experience.

Reactions on Instagram were enthusiastic and often humorous. Many users commented that they would gladly endure a minor injury if it meant receiving medical care in a Renaissance setting. Others contrasted the modest cost of the treatment—just 46 euros—with what a similar emergency visit might cost in North America, noting the accessibility of Italy’s healthcare system.

For Florentines, Santa Maria Nuova is a familiar landmark, located just steps away from the Duomo. For visitors like Swedahl, it becomes something more: a place where the city’s long history of caring for the sick intersects with Florence’s identity as a living museum.

Of course, Italy also faces its share of cases of poor healthcare management and stories of inefficiency. But this time, going to the hospital turned out to be a positive and even memorable experience—despite the circumstances.

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