Would anyone speak to how best to see the Giotto frescoes? Giotto Under the Stars? or just the 15 minute time in the Chapel with a "regular" ticket? Looks like the Under the Stars option is just during evening hours but I'd love to know it it's better in any ways.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1524 posts
I first saw the Scrovegni chapel 54 years ago when I was 15. In those days, you could be in there as long as you wanted. Now, your choice is between 15 minutes and the double evening visit that actually gets you more like 40 minutes because they don’t make you go out and come back in again. A couple years ago, I did both. First the daytime one, which was for me nowhere near enough time to even see each painting once. Then the double, which was much better. Don’t even try to take photos —- there are better ones online and in books. And your angle will be bad since many of the frescoes are high on the walls.
Full disclosure —- this chapel is my favorite art in the world, so that just possibly influences my recommendation to do the evening visit.
There is no difference that I could see between the daytime lighting and the nighttime lighting. Oh, and one other bonus of the night visit is that you are in there for about 10 minutes with few or no other people.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1524 posts
If it helps to know this, my husband has become less and less willing to go see late medieval/early Renaissance art with me after 40+ years of it, and he LOVED the Scrovegni chapel.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
I haven't been to the evening display but I'll take Nancy's word for it. And reinforce her point about taking pictures -- they'll show a distorted view because all the paintings are above you. Better just to drink it in, try to examine as many paintings as you can, and buy a book or some postcards that show them from a better perspective.
That said, better to see them for 15 minutes than not at all.
Posted by
OP
39 posts
Thank you so much! I am SO excited to see this -- I appreciate your mutual enthusiasm. Will try for the evening purely for the longer time, but will be grateful for anything. And will not try to take a single photo. :) Grazie!