Cobalt blue Chapel, Padua, Italy

‘Pets, bags, food and drinks’ are not allowed inside this blue chapel, just a 30 minutes drive from Venice in Italy. Named Cappella degli Scrovegni after the name of its commissioner, the chapel is a moving and fragile piece of medieval history, frescoed by Giotto between 1303 and 1305 in a dominant cobalt hue. Why so blue?

‘The ceiling is painted in cobalt blue to give the appearance of the sky’.
Just call +390492010020 to book your 15 minutes visit
(limited to preserve the micro-climate inside the Chapel).

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‘Giotto di Bondone (1267 – 1337) or Giotto was born at Colle di Vespignano in the Mugello valley near Florence.

Giotto’s greatest masterpieces are the frescos he painted inside the Arena or Scrovegni Chapel located in Padua, a city 30 miles southwest of Venice, Italy.

Enrico Scrovegni commissioned the Chapel in 1300. Enrico’s father, Riginaldo Scrovegni, accumulated a large amount of wealth lending money at usurious rates, contrary to the catholic virtue of charity. It is believed that Enrico commissioned the Chapel to expiate his father’s sins and to provide a fitting burial place for members of his family. It was dedicated to St. Mary of Charity in 1305.

The Chapel is often referred to as the Arena Chapel because of its close proximity to a former Roman amphitheatre […]

Giotto painted his artwork on the walls and ceiling of the Chapel using the fresco method in which water based colors are painted onto wet plaster. Painting onto wet plaster allows the paint to be infused into the plaster creating a very durable artwork.  However, since the painter must stop when the plaster dries it requires the artist to work quickly and flawlessly’

Read about Giotto and the Arena Chapel @Art Chronicle R

Giotto and the Arena Chapel @Art Chronicle R – Anything Blue

More info and tickets on the Cappella degli Scrovegni official website

Our pictures (credit: Margot de Rodellec)