Padua is often overshadowed by its famous neighbors, Venice and Verona, but this elegant city is a destination in its own right—full of history, culture, and art. The Scrovegni Chapel is the city’s crown jewel, with its frescoes of biblical scenes and allegorical depictions of the vices and virtues. The vivid colors and impeccable details, including minute facial expressions and innovative use of light and shading, are almost perfectly preserved. Giotto’s masterful work, which has delighted observers for more than seven centuries, is an excellent example of storytelling through visual art.
Visit on your own, or take in the chapel as part of a sightseeing tour of Padua.
Tickets must be booked at least 24 hours in advance; same-day tickets aren’t available.
Visits last about 30–35 minutes: 15 minutes in a climate-controlled anteroom to stabilize the temperature, then 15–20 minutes inside the chapel.
Leave your bags at the bag check, as they’re not allowed inside the chapel.
Photography without flash is allowed inside the chapel.
The chapel is accessible to wheelchairs.
The Scrovegni Chapel is tucked inside the Giardini Giotto gardens. Before going, pick up your tickets from the ticket office at the nearby Eremitani Civic Museums on Piazza Eremitani. Both the ticket office and chapel are located in Padua’s compact historic center, an easy walk from other attractions and the Padua train station.
The Scrovegni Chapel is typically open daily, year-round, until early evening. Occasionally, the chapel stays open later. Check online for hours.
Saint Anthony of Padua hailed from this quiet northern Italian city, and his remains rest in the Chapel of Saint Anthony, a popular destination for pilgrims and architecture enthusiasts. The church’s exteriors are a mix of architectural styles such as Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic; the domes echo those of Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Interior highlights include bronze statues by Donatello and 14th-century frescoes by Altichiero da Zevio.