Everyone who visits Padova will want to see the Giotto frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel.
The chapel itself is quite plain. It is set in a pretty garden guarded by a statue of Garibaldi.
The frescoes are very popular and the number of people visiting at any one time is strictly controlled (25 at a time). The chapel is temperature controlled to help preserve the frescoes. It is unlikely that you would just be able to turn up and expect to get in on the same day, and you cannot book ahead for the same day.
So, you must book ahead. It says on their website that you can telephone to book a ticket…good luck with that. I phoned and got the recorded message and then was asked to wait for an attendant. The recorded message played several times and then they hung up. I tried several times with the same result.
I decided to book online. First you must join a ticketing service which asks your life history. Once this is done it is possible to book your €13 ticket.
You must pick up said ticket at least one hour in advance. The kindly gentleman at the desk asked if I would like to go in early but 2 bus loads of school children had just arrived so I declined.
While I was waiting I stepped into a room filled with heavy glass cases containing ancient artefacts. A woman ran at me like a rabid dog, screaming about my handbag. It seems they are not allowed. I apologised and tried to leave the room, but she snapped at my heels all the way to the door screeching all the while. A bit of overkill I thought.
I checked my handbag at the cloak room and waited my turn for the chapel. Finally our group was ushered into the anteroom where we sat for 15 minutes watching a film about the frescoes before we were allowed into the chapel.
Just as well it is worth all the fuss. Banker Enrico Scrovigni built his palazzo amidst the remains of a ancient Roman arena. Beside the palazzo he wanted to build a chapel to save the soul of his father, Reginaldo, the usurer mentioned by Dante in The Divine Comedy.
It is possible that Giotto helped to design the chapel, so as to house a complete fresco cycle. Giotto’s fresco scenes are chapters in a coherent, sequential visual narative on the life of Jesus and man’s journey to salvation.
No photos were allowed and I behaved myself. These are photos of photos.
Be prepared to go through a bit of twaddle to get your 15 minutes with the frescoes, but it is worth the pain. It is almost impossible to believe the frescoes were done in the early 1300s. Of course there have been many restorations, the most recent in 2002, but the fact that they exist is incredible.
On the way out I spotted a sign that said no bags allowed in any of the museums…I still think it was overkill.
Definitely over kill on the sign about the bags but understand no photos Anyway the photos you use are great and love your explanations and descriptions – sounds very worthwhile with even the ‘twaddle’
By: Dianne CANT on September 26, 2015
at 10:17 am
Padova was a great place to visit. I will return.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 26, 2015
at 10:20 am
As you say, it is amazing that the frescoes have survived over such a long period of time and I guess that the extra care and precautions are necessary in order to preserve them; however, the employee’s overreaction was totally unjustified and rude.
By: Mulino Dominillo on September 26, 2015
at 12:44 pm
I completely agree with the precautions taken to preserve the frescoes, but I was nowhere near term with my handbag. In the chapel guests walk on a platform with handrails to prevent any opportunity to get too close…a good idea.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 26, 2015
at 1:48 pm
Oh, this was one of my favorite places in Italy. It is very sweet. The blue is so calming and the frescoes to beautiful and expressive. Yes, I agree, it is a bit of a pain. But like you said so worth it!
By: Damommachef on September 26, 2015
at 2:22 pm
The whole of Padova is excellent, but the chapel is just amazing
By: Debra Kolkka on September 26, 2015
at 2:27 pm
Not sure I would have your patience to go through all that. The last photo looks a bit nightmarish for children to view.
By: Mallee Stanley on September 26, 2015
at 2:45 pm
Perhaps the school children ahead of me were traumatised. I didn’t notice that they were making less noise when they came out.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 26, 2015
at 4:52 pm
Your photos of the photos came out really well. I agree with Mallee’s comment about the last one. It’s scary even for adults. 😯
By: anotherday2paradise on September 26, 2015
at 2:55 pm
I have seen a similar image in other places. The devil apparently likes to eat people whole.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 26, 2015
at 4:52 pm
Thanks for this information and learn about Enrico Scrogvini. I would love to visit this place.
By: kalgoorliegirl on September 26, 2015
at 4:34 pm
I do recommend it even with the extreme methods used by the staff member.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 26, 2015
at 4:53 pm
I definitely want to return again to Padua and see all she offers…..I will always remember the Good Friday we visited the chapel……very memorable.
By: Anonymous on September 26, 2015
at 6:48 pm
Padova is a very interesting city. I will definitely be back.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2015
at 7:08 pm
We visited Padua last year in the pouring rain and were treated a bit better than you were. See our post at
https://longoio.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/seventy-years-ago-in-padua/
By: Francis on September 26, 2015
at 7:12 pm
For a little more the Giotto frescoes themselves see my post at
https://longoio.wordpress.com/2014/05/11/why-dont-all-bankers-behave-like-this/
By: Francis on September 26, 2015
at 7:13 pm
And as my wife’s real name second name is Antonia we couldn’t miss a visit to Saitn Anthony’s basilica where his remains are kept:
See https://longoio.wordpress.com/2014/05/13/the-saint-of-lost-causes/
By: Francis on September 26, 2015
at 7:20 pm
I admire your persistence. I understood the care they take to protect the frescos. There are places I have visited where there are too many people and too much contact and I wonder why more care has not been policed.
By: Lyn on September 26, 2015
at 7:55 pm
The chapel is very well taken care of and I think that is great.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2015
at 7:11 pm
That certainly sounds like a lot of hoops to jump through, but worth the effort. The frescoes are stunning. They must be even more amazing in person.
By: Jackie Cangro on September 26, 2015
at 9:55 pm
It is amazing to stand in the chapel and be surrounded by the incredible frescoes.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2015
at 7:12 pm
They are definitely worth the time and effort! unforgettable, as is the Basilica.
By: bonniegm on September 27, 2015
at 12:02 am
Padova is full of delights.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2015
at 7:12 pm
incredible frescoes Debra.
(I reckon I’d like something like that in my bathroom.)
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on September 27, 2015
at 12:55 pm
I am always tempted to rush home and paint my walls. Unfortunately I have no talent.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2015
at 7:13 pm
The detail in the paintings is astonishing – 15 minutes doesn’t seem long enough to take it all in. I wonder how many painters did the frescoes and how long it took. As for the devilish devil – I sometimes think children take such things in their stride – it reminds me of a response Roald Dahl gave when a schoolchild asked what he and his publishers did if children didn’t like the stories he wrote. His response was “we eat them”:)
By: Jan on September 27, 2015
at 10:34 pm
Giotto had many assistants. I think kids love gory stuff, I know I did.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2015
at 7:14 pm
Good to see more of Giotto’s frescos elsewhere. We saw some in a beautiful old chapel (can’t remember the name) in Assissi. Giotto’s frescos were unique in that he painted emotional expressions on his characters’ faces – different from the flat two-dimensioned style of the Byzantine paintings.
By: Sandra Hoopmann on September 28, 2015
at 4:18 am
Giotto was certainly in Assisi, but the frescoes in Padova are considered his best.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2015
at 7:14 pm
very beautiful. your site is amazing. thanks. george miori
By: george Miori on September 28, 2015
at 2:10 pm
Thanks George. You will see it all fir yourself one day soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 28, 2015
at 7:15 pm
Great post Debra. Had good laughs about the hassels just to get in and then the “overkill lady”. Alana
By: Anonymous on September 28, 2015
at 8:14 pm
Some Italians could learn a little about customer service.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 5, 2015
at 7:47 am
I just love frescoes and these are amazing and certainly worth all the hoops you had to jump though! I’m sure you’ve probably seen the Piero della Francesco frescoes in Arezzo. I remember having to do a similar booking experience to enter the Brancacci Chapel in Florence.
By: paninigirl on October 1, 2015
at 4:47 pm
I did a post on Arezzo with the beautiful frescoes a while ago…fabulous.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 5, 2015
at 7:46 am
Certainly vibrant colours in these frescoes…..and quite different from any others we saw.
By: Kerry & Jim on October 3, 2015
at 10:36 pm
Padova has lots of great stuff. There will be more posts eventually.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 5, 2015
at 7:46 am
[…] took myself off to Padova to the the Giotto frescoes and fell in love with this underrated […]
By: A year of travel | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on December 26, 2015
at 1:20 pm
[…] first tip is to visit the Scrovegni Chapel to see Giotto’s magnificent frescoes. You can see more on this here. Giotto’s frescoes […]
By: Top tips for Padova | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on January 22, 2016
at 11:10 am
I love Giotto! He was the first artist to put expressions in people’s faces. Previously, Byzantine art was considered “flat” compared to Giotto’s lively frescoes. Deb, I had to laugh over the lady “snapping at your heels” …oh dear! 😂 🤣 You DO know how to tell a story!
By: Sandra Hoopmann on June 20, 2018
at 9:16 am
She was a pain!
By: Debra Kolkka on June 20, 2018
at 10:09 am