One of Padua's top tourist attractions,
if not the top tourist attraction,
is the Scrovegni Chapel.
The chapel was commissioned by Enrico Scrovegni in 1303
but is now a museum open to the public
to view the vibrantly colored frescoes of Giotto.
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| Scrovegni Chapel |
To tour the chapel,
you need to purchase tickets
and you must arrive on time.
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| Scrovegni Chapel |
You will enter a decompression area first
where you will spend 15 minutes
allowing the stabilization of the interior microclimate
during which time you will be watching an informational film.
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| Scrovegni Chapel |
Then you will get exactly 15 minutes in the chapel.
I read a good suggestion for those
who wish a longer time to view the frescoes
is to purchase two back-to-back tickets.
That would give you 30 minutes in the chapel.
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| Scrovegni Chapel |
The frescoes are a masterpiece of storytelling so
take time to notice the intricate details.
If you do not have a tour guide,
read a bit about the frescoes in advance
and you will have a greater appreciation
of the work and juxtapositions.
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| Scrovegni Chapel |
Be sure to look for the frescoes depicting
Vices and Virtues,
the Life of Mary
the Life of Christ,
the Last Judgement,
and the Annunciation.
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| Scrovegni Chapel |
Sometimes the chapel is referred to as the Arena Chapel
because of its location
on what was once a Roman arena.
Don't let that confuse you,
they are one in the same.
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| Scrovegni Chapel |
More images from the chapel are here.
The chapel website is here.
More of my information about visiting Padua is here.
Once you are at the chapel,
take a stroll through the nearby Church of the Eremitani
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| Church of the Eremitani |
Once bombed in WW2 for its unlucky location
next to a German command center,
it has been rebuilt
and some frescoes remain.
There are additional photos of
the Church of the Eremitani here.
