I had already visited Padua several times and I had visited the Scrovegni Chapel some 13 years ago but at the time photography wasn't allowed, so I didn't mind revisiting to take some photos of Padua's WHS and TWHS.

Moreover, I had seen an advert of the late opening hours of the Scrovegni Chapel plus the possibility of staying inside it double the amount of time which is usually allowed. It's no secret that even as a standalone site, the Scrovegni Chapel deserves inscription as a WHS. Conservation efforts have been more or less continuous over the past fifty years. To start with, the entire chapel had suffered from the nearby bombing during World War II. The facade was dangerously out of trim and had to be realigned. Next came the repairs to the old framework of the beamed ceiling, then the devising of a new system for draining off rainwater from the area beneath the chapel. After this came the decision to close off the adjacent Via Giotto to traffic, followed by the replacing of several tie-beams in the nave while the frescoes underwent highly specific inspection and maintenance.

During the 70s, the newly formed interdisciplinary Commission announced that atmospheric pollution constituted a major threat to the frescoes, so monitoring began, using the most up-to-date technology. Results clearly showed that improving the environment had to take priority over restoration. Meanwhile, steps were being taken to verify the static condition of the building, to protect it from seepage and from both natural and artificial radiation. This was followed by an in-depth study of the chemical and physical agents present as well as of the existing microclimate. The only work done on the frescoes took the form of reinforcing and cleaning.

Then the specially designed, state-of-the-art entrance (where a short but informative film is shown) was set in place which guarantees the filtering and cleaning of the air inside the chapel, monitors and controls the microclimate inside, and limits the number of visitors to 25 at any one time. From my last visit, more than a decade back, a new lighting system has been installed which adjusts the artificial lighting inside to an optimum level according to the natural light present outside. Booking the evening tickets already meant that the 25 spots weren't filled in, but then the double time inside we had paid extra for meant that we had at least 5 minutes completely alone inside the chapel (photo) between exit of the first group we went in with and entrance of the second group.

This time round I also visited the other locations of the Padova Urbs Picta TWHS nomination and I must say that all of them were top notch sites. The different locations (especially the smaller chapels with 'normal-looking' exteriors) in a way reminded my of the WHS in Ravenna, where I had felt awestruck each time I stepped inside the different locations and gazed at the mosaics. In Padua, the Giotto frescoes are truly remarkable and really worth visiting. Read up before visiting so that before visiting you can already have an idea about the history and techniques involved. The different locations are really like separate art museums in quite a small space but a truly 360 degree experience, so it helps to know which frescoes not to miss. At the same time, you'll surely be able to appreciate other minor frescoes or the intricate little details of the more famous ones.