Vittorio Sgarbi hospitalized in intensive care in Rome

Art critic and politician Vittorio Sgarbi, 74, has been admitted to the intensive care unit at the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli in Rome due to respiratory failure. While official medical bulletins have not been released, health sources describe his condition as grave.

This hospitalization follows a period of significant personal and legal turmoil. In March 2025, Sgarbi was hospitalized at the same facility for severe depression that led to food refusal. His health struggles have been compounded by a legal battle with his daughter, Evelina Sgarbi, who sought the appointment of a legal guardian, claiming he is no longer capable of managing his own affairs.

Sgarbi's lawyer, Ugo Ruffolo, has defended the critic, describing the legal accusations as “indecent” and suggesting that the stress of court proceedings, rather than public engagements, has contributed to his decline. Journalist Pierluigi Diaco also commented on the situation, suggesting that public humiliations may have played a role in Sgarbi's depressive state.