Musei Civici Agli Eremitani E Cappella Degli Scrovegni

The Scrovegni Chapel is one of Italy’s best little-​known jewels a must-​see for art lovers. Frescos by Giotto cover the interior walls and ceiling of this chapel, dedicated in 1305, funded by the Scrovegni family. The family name translates into English as «Scrooge», as the family was rich beyond measure by usury; in fact, Dante puts the pater familias in the 7^th circle of Hell in «The Divine Comedy.» Enrico, his son, funded the chapel to save the family’s name and make amends to God.
The art, recently restored, shows Bible stories in realistic Italian settings, with «real» people rather than idealized figures. The colors of the panels are vibrant and intense. Look for the comet in one of the panels — the first artistic representation of Haley’s Comet ever!
This chapel kickstarted the changeover from Byzantine artistic style to the humanism of the Renaissance. Arguably, the chapel with it’s Last Judgment covering one end wall presaged Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel version.
Make sure you have reservations well in hand. The website
is necessary to book a 20 minute viewing window at least 1 day in advance, and show up at least 1 hour before the reservation time. You can book online for several months in advance.
No cameras of any kind are allowed inside — period — due to the fragility of the artwork. As a sidebar, the chapel was nearly hit by a bomb and destroyed during WWII. See this while it’s still open to the public — it’s only a matter of time before preservation will require closure to the general public. Presently, the air is scrubbed between every group of 25 people.
Whether you are religious or not, this is an artistic masterpiece beyond measure, preserved now for over 800 years!