Padua concentrates some of the most decisive moments in Italian art within a remarkably walkable center. Giotto's complete fresco cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel (1303–1305), Donatello's bronze altar and equestrian Gattamelata at the Basilica of Saint Anthony, Mantegna's surviving Ovetari Chapel fragments in the Church of the Eremitani, and Giusto de' Menabuoi's Baptistery frescoes are all within 15 minutes of each other on foot.
This page maps where to find each work, what to book in advance, and how to connect Padua's chapels, churches and museums into a practical itinerary.
ⓘ Opening hours and admission prices listed on this page are indicative and subject to change. Always verify current information on the official website of each venue before your visit.
Giotto's complete fresco cycle covers the entire interior: 38 scenes from the lives of Joachim and Anna, the Virgin, and Christ, plus the monumental Last Judgment on the entrance wall. Visits last 15 minutes (plus 15 minutes in the climate-controlled antechamber). Maximum 25 visitors per slot. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–19:00. Evening visits sometimes available in summer. The chapel is inside the Giardini dell'Arena, adjacent to the Musei Civici Eremitani (combined ticket available).
The pinacoteca on the upper floor holds works by Guariento di Arpo (polyptych panels and Angels series), Giotto's Crucifix from the Scrovegni Chapel, a fine Crucifixion by Giorgione (attributed), and paintings by Tintoretto, Veronese, and Tiepolo. The ground floor houses the archaeological collection with Roman artifacts from Patavium. Directly adjacent to the Scrovegni Chapel; plan 60–90 minutes.
The high altar holds Donatello's bronze Crucifix, the Madonna with Child, and six bronze saints (1444–1450), plus four large narrative reliefs depicting miracles of Saint Anthony. Outside on the piazza stands Donatello's Equestrian Monument of Gattamelata (1453), the first large-scale equestrian bronze since antiquity. Inside, the Cappella di San Giacomo contains Altichiero da Zevio's fresco cycle of the Life of Saint James (c. 1379). The Cappella del Beato Luca Belludi has frescoes by Giusto de' Menabuoi. The basilica is open daily 6:15–19:45 (shorter hours in winter). Located 10 minutes on foot south of the Scrovegni Chapel.
The entire interior is covered with Giusto de' Menabuoi's fresco cycle: scenes from Genesis, the life of Christ, and the Apocalypse, with the immense Paradise filling the dome. The polyptych altarpiece on the altar is also by Giusto. Located in Piazza Duomo, 5 minutes west of the Palazzo della Ragione. Open daily 10:00–18:00. Allow 30 minutes.
Andrea Mantegna's Ovetari Chapel frescoes (1448–1457) were mostly destroyed by bombing in 1944. The two surviving panels, Assumption of the Virgin and Martyrdom of Saint Christopher, were reinstalled alongside a 2006 reconstruction from recovered fragments. The church also contains frescoes by Guariento. Located immediately next to the Musei Civici Eremitani. Open Monday to Saturday, 8:00–18:00, Sunday 10:00–13:00.
The upper hall (the Salone) is one of the largest medieval halls in Europe (81m long). The walls are covered with an astrological fresco cycle (15th century, replacing a lost Giotto cycle). A wooden horse attributed to Annibale Capodilista (15th century) stands inside. Located between Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza della Frutta. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–18:00 (November–January until 18:00). Three minutes from the Baptistery.
Complete fresco cycle by Altichiero: scenes from the lives of Christ, Saint George, Saint Catherine, and Saint Lucy. One of the best-preserved late 14th-century fresco ensembles in Northern Italy. Located next to the Basilica of Saint Anthony, on the south side of the piazza. Open daily 9:00–12:30 and 14:30–17:00 (summer until 18:00).
Three frescoes by the young Titian depicting Miracles of Saint Anthony (1511): the Miracle of the Jealous Husband, the Miracle of the Newborn Child, and the Miracle of the Irascible Son. These are among Titian's earliest known works. Located upstairs, adjacent to the Basilica of Saint Anthony and the Oratorio di San Giorgio. Same ticket covers both. Allow 20 minutes.
All three sites are inside or adjacent to the Giardini dell'Arena. Start here in the morning with your pre-booked Scrovegni Chapel slot, then visit the Eremitani pinacoteca and the Mantegna fragments in the church. Total time: 2–2.5 hours.
Donatello's bronzes, Altichiero's frescoes, and Titian's early paintings are all within 50 meters of each other around Piazza del Santo. The basilica is free; a combined ticket covers the Oratorio and Scuola. Allow 2 hours. Ten minutes on foot from the Scrovegni Chapel.
The Baptistery (Giusto de' Menabuoi's dome) and the Palazzo della Ragione (astrological frescoes) are both in the civic center. Walk between the two in 3 minutes. Best visited in the afternoon after the Scrovegni and Santo clusters. Padua Cathedral itself is adjacent to the Baptistery and worth a brief stop.
The Scrovegni Chapel cycle (1303–1305) is Giotto's most complete surviving work. Explore his other frescoes in Assisi, Florence, and Rome on the Giotto page.
Donatello spent a decade in Padua (1443–1453), producing the Santo altar bronzes and the Gattamelata monument. Continue to Florence and Siena on the Donatello page.
Mantegna trained in Padua under Squarcione and painted the Ovetari Chapel before moving to Mantua. Follow his career through Mantua, Milan, and London on the Mantegna page.
Giotto's fresco cycle in Padua (1304–1305) is the first great pictorial narrative in Western art in which figures inhabit convincing space, express recognisable emotion, and relate to each other as bodies with weight. Thirty-seven scenes arranged across three registers, in a room built to contain them. Entry is limited to 25 visitors per 15-minute slot — book well in advance.
Yes, booking is mandatory. Visits are limited to 25 people per 15-minute slot. Reserve at least 2 to 4 weeks ahead, especially from March to October. You can book through the Musei Civici Padova website or via a guided tour package.
One full day covers the three main clusters: Scrovegni Chapel and Eremitani (morning), Basilica del Santo with Oratorio and Scuola (midday), Baptistery and Palazzo della Ragione (afternoon). Two days allow a slower pace and time for the University's Anatomical Theatre, Palazzo del Bò, and the Orto Botanico.
All concentrated around the Basilica of Saint Anthony: the bronze Crucifix, Madonna with Child, six saints, and four miracle reliefs on the high altar (1444–1450), plus the equestrian Gattamelata monument in the piazza outside. The basilica is free to enter.
Mantegna's Ovetari Chapel frescoes (1448–1457) were largely destroyed by bombing on March 11, 1944. Two surviving scenes, the Assumption and the Martyrdom of Saint Christopher, are now displayed alongside a 2006 reconstruction from recovered fragments. The church is free and sits next to the Musei Civici.
Yes. A combined ticket covers the Scrovegni Chapel and the Musei Civici agli Eremitani (pinacoteca and archaeological museum). The two buildings are adjacent within the same garden complex. Plan your Scrovegni slot first, then explore the museum before or after.
In Padua, Giotto reinvented narrative fresco, Donatello reinvented devotional sculpture, and Mantegna trained the eye that would define the northern Italian Renaissance. The city is compact enough to walk in a day, dense enough to repay a second. Book the Scrovegni Chapel early, arrive at the Basilica del Santo before the crowds, and let the map connect the rest.