Official Information
Official booking site: https://cappellascrovegni.padovamusei.it/
Advance reservations: Mandatory via the official system or call centre; all ticket types and Urbs Picta Card options are listed under “Biglietti e orari”.
Address: Piazza Eremitani 8 (entrance via Museo Eremitani), 35121 Padova, Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
Open year-round with timed visits, typically daily from 09:00 to 19:00; closed on certain holidays. Each group is allowed a 15-minute slot in the chapel following a short acclimatisation period. Check the official website for up-to-date schedules and closures.
Giotto’s fresco cycle in the Cappella degli Scrovegni is one of the masterpieces of Western art and a must-see for anyone serious about painting. Commissioned in the early 1300s by banker Enrico Scrovegni, the chapel is completely enveloped in Giotto’s scenes from the lives of the Virgin Mary and Christ, remarkable for their emotional depth, narrative clarity and luminous colour. Visits are strictly timed and controlled for conservation: before entering, visitors spend time in a climate-controlled vestibule watching a video about the art and its preservation, allowing everyone, tand their clothing, tto acclimatise. Once inside, the chapel’s vibrant blues, golds and star-studded vault create an intense atmosphere, with scenes like the Kiss at the Golden Gate and Lamentation displaying Giotto’s radical use of gesture and composition. The cycle culminates in a monumental Last Judgment filling the west wall. With only 15 minutes to take it all in, it’s wise to prepare in advance; study the art before your visit and consider bringing a small binocular to appreciate the detail. Flash photography is always forbidden and other photo rules may apply, so check ahead. Tickets need to be booked online, sometimes days or weeks ahead in busy periods, either individually or via the Urbs Picta Card which grants access to additional 14th-century fresco sites in Padua. The chapel is located beside the Eremitani Museum, allowing you to add more local art and archaeology to your itinerary.