Padua and the Scrovegni Chapel

Yes, it is.

If you really like art it is truly worth it.

That's really not possible for someone else to answer. Here are some facts that may be useful:

• One ticket costs 14 euros, so I assume you are quoting the total price for two people.
• It's a UNESCO World Heritage site and extraordinarily important in the history of art. Some people book back-to-back tickets because they want extra time in the chapel.
• The ticket also covers the Eremitani Museum and the Zuckermann Palace.
• The city of Padua has a city sightseeing card that is a really, really good value. A 48-hour card costs just 16 euros and covers admission to: Scrovegni Chapel (1-euro reservation fee), Eremitanii Museum, Zuckermann Palace, Palazzo della Ragione, Oratory of San Michele, Oratory of San Rocco and a few other sights.

There is a great deal to see in Padua, so you wouldn't necessarily be making the trip just to see the Scrovegni Chapel.

I roll my eyes at most big-city sightseeing cards, but the Padua Card is a deal.

That said, when money is tight, tough decisions need to be made. I'd say if you aren't Christian/religious and don't care about early Renaissance art, it's not unreasonable to spend your money elsewhere. I, myself, have skipped a lot of places that others consider must-sees: the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Eiffel Tower, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, York Minster, Edinburgh Castle...

Acraven, I sounds worth it, especially for $16. It's interesting, I would skip the same things you would skip. We must be a little bit alike.
Thanks for all your comments.

So you get your reservation at the chapel, then buy the Padova card when you get there? What is the best site to get just the reservation?

The Scrovegni Chapel is worth a visit. Only you can decide if it is worth the trip. Padua itself is a great town to visit, too.

Please remember you are on a timed ticket and can only remain in the chapel for 15 minutes.

I have booked through this website in the past..

http://www.cappelladegliscrovegni.it/index.php/en/

If you're going to use the card, I'm nearly certain you need to start by buying the card. I think you select a date and time to visit the chapel as part of the same process. I can't say exactly how it's going to work for you, because I was spending a few nights in Padua (I loved walking around the city as well as the sights I went to), so I just went to the tourist office, bought the pass and made the reservation in person.

Refer to this webpage: https://padovamusei.it/it/padovacard. You may need to right-click and choose "Translate to English" here.

Near the bottom of the webpage is a link in red to a vivaticket website. I was expecting to find the PaduaCard (PadovaCard) for sale there, but I don't see it. There are other cards that you don't want. I don't know what's going on. There's also a phone number given. You can call that if you have an affordable way to do that. That's likely to be the simplest solution, but unless you have something like Wi-Fi calling set up, the cost of the call might be really annoying.

You might prefer to try using the Vivaticket support form here: https://cappelladegliscrovegni.vivaticket.it/it/assistenza

Or you can contact the Padua Museum folks here: https://padovamusei.it/it/informazioni-contatti

I don't know why it appears impossible to buy the card online at the moment; perhaps sale of the card was suspended for a while due to COVID and they just don't have all the web pieces working yet. Or maybe I'm missing something and someone else can find it for you.

I've found some updated information. It appears the PaduaCard has now been renamed the Urbs Picta Card (someone paid a marketing consultant to come up with that???). And the price for 48 hours is, indeed 28 euros, so that explains what you had found, mlw. If you wish to proceed with the purchase, this seems to be the place to do it:

Padua Urbs Picta Card

Unless you are forced to go to Padua on a Monday, be sure you select the CAPPELLA DEGLI SCROVEGNI E MUSEI CIVICI DEGLI EREMITANI ticket.

I went part of the way through the process and didn't hit a roadblock. It appears you'll need to set up a Vivaticket account. I'd suggest going and ahead with that now, because occasionally folks run into problems trying to set up accounts like that as they try to get the website to accept their US telephone number or something like that. If the website wants you to select your country from a list and you're from the US, look for Stati Uniti or Gli Stati Uniti.

I apologize for understating the cost of the card. Unfortunately, the old info is still out there on the Internet.

I purchased this card about a week ago, yes the website is somewhat confusing.

Best of all when you are entering your payment (you have to register on the account 1st) the system requires that it send you a confirming text with a number to enter on the payment site before taking your credit card info.
I could not get the system to send the text for three days, then finally Saturday night it worked perfectly.
Patience may be required.

I’m sorry my initial post was brusque, but really, I burst into tears when I walked in there. I hope you get to see it.

Maybe you've done this easy online research on the chapel already (see below) or more extensive library research, but here are a few resources for learning more about Giotto and his masterwork. Visiting the chapel is enhanced rather than spoiled by such "previews" --- I knew quite a bit about the chapel before I first visited it more than 50 years ago (when you could just walk in and spend all the time you wanted) and I'd learned even more when I saw it again right before the pandemic hit. My big advice, besides to spring for the double evening ticket, is not to try to photograph the frescoes --- most are high up and your angle will be bad and there are plenty of good photos of every scene online and in books. But, binoculars are a good idea.

As for Padua, my husband and I spent 9 nights there and decided that if we were to choose a city in Italy to live in, we would choose Padua. (Well, or Florence.) But it may not make the best day trip --- it's not just instantly charming and walkable the way more purely medieval (and smaller) towns are. It's a city.

Khan academy four free video lectures about the Scrovegni chapel:
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/medieval-europe-islamic-world/v/giotto-arena-scrovegni-chapel-padua-c-1305-part-1-of-4

Rocky Ruggiero's free podcasts --- several are about the chapel and several more about Giotto:
https://rockyruggiero.com/podcasts/

Rocky's $15 video lecture about Giotto
https://rockyruggiero.com/online-learning/italys-great-artists-giotto/

Many free videos on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scrovegni+chapel

I didn't have quite as extreme a reaction in the Scrovegni Chapel, but I very nearly cried at the first mosaic site I visited in Ravenna. Evidently I'm more a mosaic person than a fresco person.

@acraven, the Mausoleo Galla Placida and the Arian Baptistry were very moving to me also.

Some of the comments raise this question. If you don’t go to Padua, where were you thinking of going, instead? We stayed in Padua for 5 nights and did go see the Scrovegni Chapel. It wasn’t busy during our time period, so we could really enjoy the experience. But it didn’t begin to compare with seeing mosaics in Ravenna! (Enjoyed 2 nights in Ravenna.). So if money is tight, maybe share what you are generally considering for your trip. There may be some ways to maximize your enjoyment that you haven’t considered.

Jean, I have 9 nights in Venice. Many people say it's too many, a few say it's not. I thought a day trip to one of the islands and one to somewhere on the mainland would be in order. Perhaps I would find enough just in venice. Since some of those days will be holidays it will be extra crowded I suspect. I will be there from April 13- April 22. Easter might be a good day to go somewhere but maybe some stuff will be closed. Anyway, everyone has convinced me that Padova is a good idea. Looking at Ravenna, it maybe sounds even better, smaller and the mosaics sound wonderful. However it is pretty far for a day trip. Perhaps I could take a small bag and stay a night. If it were you and you could only pick one, Padova or Ravenna, which would you pick?

Yes, I do really like art!

Jean makes an excellent point! The use of the word "worth" isn't about intrinsic worth, at least not to my way of thinking --- it's a shorthand for "given my budget, amount of time, state of health, interest or lack of interest in certain things, willingness to drive or take public transportation, jet lag status, contrary desires of family or friends, how well I slept, the weather, etc etc, do I want to do x or do I want to do y?" Other people may be able to help someone make such a decision, but it's complicated and personal. Like, I would (and have) traveled far out of my way in Italy to see 3rd or 4th rate early Renaissance art, but wouldn't even walk into the next door room in an art gallery or church to see most of Raphael's or Perugino's paintings. i could explain that rather ridiculous preference, but I usually don't need to when making Italian travel decisions.

Nancys8, I like your comment!

Inbsig, Where are the others you mentioned?

OP - they are sites in Ravenna, two of several spectacular Byzantine mosaic sites there. Do you have any notion of visiting Ravenna during your trip?

Inbsig, It sounds very enticing. It is a 3 hour trip, however, too far for a day trip. It may be better than Padua. What do you think?

I would definitely spend at least one night in Ravenna - more would be better. Could you take a day or two away from Venice and go to Ravenna before or after?

Ravenna vs. Padua is a difficult call, I think. I'd like very much to go back to both of them. I agree that you'd need to spend a night in Ravenna. Alternatively, you might save some money by spending two nights there, because I believe you'll find lodging considerably cheaper there than in Venice. You could leave Venice later in the day (if there's a train between, say, 4 and 6 PM) after doing considerable sightseeing in Venice, and you could could head back to Venice early in the day two days later, assuming your lodging(s) will store luggage for you.

Pro Ravenna:
- There are at least seven mosaic sites. They are the best in Europe outside Istanbul and recognized by UNESCO. All but one are right in town, and the last is an easy-enough bus ride away in Classe.

- There are some other sights as well. Rick covers Ravenna in his guide to Venice so you can judge what else you might enjoy. (See below for more info on Ravenna.)
- Ravenna is the port cruise ships are starting to use now that the large ones can't do what they used to do in Venice. Ravenna is going to become a lot more crowded; I think it's better to go this year if you possibly can. For me, this is a major consideration. As far as I know, it's not urgent to go to Padua this year rather than next.

Pro Padua:
- Padua has a considerably wider variety of sights. Rick devotes 32 pages to Padua and 24 to Ravenna.
- Travel time to Padua is much, much shorter.

You truly cannot go wrong here, which is another way of saying I don't know what to tell you to do!

Further information on sights in Ravenna:
- www.ravennamosaici.it has info on the combo ticket for a single entry to five of the main mosaic sites over a seven-day period: Basilica di San Vitale, Mausoleo di Galla Placida, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Museo Arcivescovile and Battistero Neoniano. Online pictures don't do justice to the mosaics.
- The Museo Nazionale, an archaeological museum, is covered by the same ticket as Sant'Apollinare in Classe (the seventh mosaic site).
- Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra Is a Byzantine house discovered in the 1990s with floor mosaics, though they seem not to be as "wow" as the wall mosaics in the religious buildings.
- The Battistero degli Ariani is another major mosaic site.
- There's some Liberty-style (Art Nouveau) architecture in Via Cairoli, Via Roma and Viale IV Novembre.

When we visited Padua , we went to the Scrovegni Chapel on a single visit, and returned the next day for the evening double .. I did take pictures , and with a telephoto lens , was able to get great shots . We also spent a week in Ravenna , and the mosaics were as spectacular as has been noted . We made repeat visits to several of the sites . Exceptionally fascinating is St Apollinaire in Classe , a short bus ride from town . Since you are interested in art , the Austrian artist , Gustav Klimt visited Ravenna in 1902 and the impact the mosaics had on him informed his " Gold Period " work in 1906 - 1908 . This famous portrait shows the influence - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Klimt#/media/File:Gustav_Klimt_046.jpg If I had to make a choice , Ravenna would be it . As you are going to Venice , seeing this film from 1955 is a must . Here is a clip to whet your interest - https://youtu.be/PXH9FJMttzA

I see acraven mentions Liberty style . This is Italian art nouveau and draws its name from Arthur Liberty and his luxury department store in London . Since you will be in Venice for nine days , hop on the vaporetto and go to Lido for a stroll . the boat ride is fifteen minutes and there is a fair amount of that style of art nouveau architecture there an example - https://www.expedia.com/Venice-Hotels-Ausonia-Hungaria.h433443.Hotel-Information?SEMDTL=a1414680644.b11323813373801914.g1kwd-82739061997910%3Aloc-190.l1.e1c.m1.r1a668ee9339b475f70795065470fe72b6c7af26c883fdddd91c3e1be488b8dc10.c1PwZq9Z9QMQFR8KWztxXeEg.j198893.k1.d1.h1e.i18177767248960.n1.o1.p1.q1.s1.t1.x1.f1.u1.v1.w1&locale=en_US&msclkid=eff94f1572271e05470f2d5078ec4085&pwaDialogNested=media-gallery&semcid=US.UB.BING.PT-c-EN.HOTEL&siteid=1&sl=ppp&utm_campaign=BEX%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%24%3APT%3AEMEA%3AITA%3A34%3A6048725%3AMCY%3AVenice%3A179981%3ACL%3A&utm_content=BEX%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%24%3APT%3AEMEA%3AITA%3A34%3AVenice%3A179981%3AAusonia_Hungaria%3APE433443%3Ahotel%3A&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=grande%20albergo%20ausonia

Thanks for all your thoughts. Now to figure out how to do it, go to Ravenna, that is.
This forum has been invaluable to me. I wish it was like years ago, when you could play it by ear in Europe. You could always find a cheap place to stay even in the summer. I don't like to plan everything down to the minute. Oh well.

I imagine you’d want to go by train, either changing in Bologna or in Ferrara.

From an art historian's perspective, the importance of Giotto's work in the Scrovegni Chapel for western art can't be overstated. There's also significant Donatello work at St. Anthony's Basilica. The university town had several art supply stores that put ours to shame. I returned home with an embarrassment of watercolors, conti crayons and pastels.

Several years ago we had the opportunity to see the Scrovegni Chapel "Under the Stars" which is an evening visit double the time normally allowed, a full 40 minutes with just one acclimatization period. We did that 2 evenings but then again I'm an art historian. I'm not sure if this is currently being offered but I recommend watching for it in the future.

There are some important Donatello pieces inside St. Anthony's Basilica (the high altar) as well as outside (the magnificent equestrian Statute of Condottiere Gattamelata is highly significant).

There are fun outdoor markets at several locations including the Palazzo della Ragione ( the medieval market hall). One of the vendors brought a wonderfully entertaining dog every day.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Padua and often think that we would enjoy living there more than any other place we've visited. Restaurant staffs were particularly patient with us and one presented us with a parting dessert after patronizing them so often.

We flew into Venice and took a taxi directly to our Padua hotel as we were exhausted. Days later we took the train back to Venice which places you in a most convenient spot.

Even if you spent 7 rather than 9 nights in Venice, to allow for visiting Ravenna, you could still also get in a day trip to Padova - the train ride is only 30-45 minutes.

Since your trip is coming up very soon, I don’t want to mess up your itinerary by saying to switch lodging and stay at a few locations instead of all at Venice. We absolutely love Venice, but that is a lot of time to plan to stay there, Lodging at Ravenna was cheaper than Venice when I was there, and almost all of the mosaic sites are very close to walk to each.

Nice day trips from Venice are Verona, Padova & Vicenza. We have been to all 3. Of those three, our favorite is Verona. It has the Roman Arena - think a scaled down version of the Colosseum that’s in great shape. I have attended an opera there. It’s generally a very nice city to walk around the sites. If you take the faster train, you could easily stop at two of the three cities during a day trip.

Another town that’s only an hour away from Venice by train is Ferrara. I will be there in June. There’s a castle in the middle of the town, and it’s a popular city to bike.

Are you flying into and out of Venice, and is your entire Italy portion of the trip now to be staying in Venice? And you're going to Paris first? (I skimmed through some of your other posts just now, but didn't see what your current plan is.)

Personally, 9 nights in Venice is too long. Take 2/3 and go to Ravenna. Take 2 nights go to Padua and spend the rest in Venice. Then you can experience it all. Night time is the best when all the day tourist have left.

Nancy, Yes, all nights in Venice. Maybe it is too long. I saw the major sights, except Venice, years ago. I didn't want to flit around as fast. So perhaps I've gone to the other extreme. Ravenna does sound good to me, also Padova. I will be in Venice over Easter when it will be hellishly busy with tourists. I didn't plan that very well. It might be a good time to go somewhere else, if I can make it work. I do want enough time in Venice to get lost a lot and see the sights and not feel rushed. I'm going to work on it. it is getting close, though. I leave April 11.
I really appreciate everyone's thoughts.

If you are flying into and out of Venice, it would be easiest to train directly to Padua upon landing for 2 nights, then to Ravenna for 2 nights, then to Venice for the remaining 5 nights. I've already spent 2 weeks in Venice and would happily spend another 2 weeks, but it sure sounds like from everything you've said that you'd like to stay in these two other places, and even including the 3+ hour trip from Ravenna to Venice it seems very reasonable and doable.

We enjoyed our very inexpensive airbnb apartment in Castello, if you want an apartment recommendation. It was a 15 minute walk along the water to San Marco.