Padova Travel Forum

I will be in Italy in the last week of September/first week October. I will be staying near Desenzano, but have checked the Trenitalia website, and reckon that the 10:13am express train to Venice could get me to Padova in just over an hour.

My questions: I have been to the official Scrovegni(Arena) Chapel website, which seems to recommend pre-booking admission. But if I want to 'take things as they come' on holiday and not be committed to a strict timetable and spending money 'up front', 1) what are the chances of booking admission on the internet the day before I travel? or 2)getting in to the chapel after just turning up? 3) Are there any times of the day when its easier to get in? 4) Generally, how busy would the chapel be on, for example 2nd October? (or is it busy all year round?).

I can speak and understand Italian (and French and German)? Is it any easier to get in if you book yourself in to a non-English-speaking group? (This does actually happen at tourist sites in other parts of Europe)

Hoping someone can help...

You can try just showing up, one time I got right in, another time there were groups of school children waiting to go in and there were no tickets available until late that afternoon. The chapel does not seem to be as busy in the afternoon as in the morning. The tickets are timed, you go in with small groups. The chapel is in fragile condition so only small groups are allowed in and you can only stay 15 minutes. The place is incredible and well worth the visit. Read about the chapel and what you will see before you go so you don't waste the short time that you have. If I remember correctly Enrico Scrovegni was mentioned in Dante's Inferno.

Hi, I have booked one day before in April with no problems but it is difficult to know. I suppose that the afternoon is less busy as school visit are normally during morning. I think that if you will stay in Padova only one day is better you prebook, they will give you a time when you have to be there and you can plan the rest of your visit according with this time. Before entering the Chapel you will see a video that explan the main facts, the video seem to be available only in Italian. I agree with Yetist about reading about the Chapel before coming in as the visit will be really in a short time.
The ticket you will pay include the possibility to visit the Padova museum and Palazzo Zuckerman, if you have spare time they both worth a visit.
Have a nice stay in my city, Orietta