today is a car-free day with the plan to check out inner padua
first up is the scrovegni chapel and the city's top tourist attraction
named after a chap who built it as penance for his life of usury
it dates back to the 13th century and is a much treasured building
15 minutes in an air-lock is required before entering the chapel
and with audioguide in the ear we have only 15 minutes inside
that time spent quickly perusing the walls under it's instruction
there are over 50 separate frescoes fully covering the inner walls
arranged in a series of tiers and telling the story of mary and jesus
the ceiling painted in blue also by giotto to suggest a star-lit night
the paintings themselves - colourful, unique and visually accessible
each one deserves much more time than the few seconds available
which is the major negative here - just not enough time to dwell
before we can blink we are being ushered out but let's not quibble
as with the sistene chapel and the last supper this has been special
the chapel is next to padua's museum of medieval and modern art
our tickets grant us entry so in we go - and upstairs to the gallery
an unexpected immersion then into a full catalogue of italian art
the audioguide providing more information than can be absorbed
again - we are close-up and personal surely with priceless works
so many subjects and styles with of course religion dominating
a side exhibition of tintoretto works is particularly enthralling
his large paintings mixing landscapes in an early abstract style
we spill out of the museum with heads overwhelmed by it all
over a pizza lunch a plan is hatched to visit 5 more galleries
but only one taker as the fine shopping in padua is irresistible
so begins a dash around the pedestrian-friendly centre of town
cars are banned or at least discouraged so it's a fun adventure
the galleries themselves are small and all empty of visitors
possibly the content - modern art, photography and fixtures
the favourite being a series of 365 identically sized photos
each photo taken in a different but consecutive day in 2013
the subject - the sky - often cloudy, or foggy, dark or light
in some photos is seen a plane, a bird, a balloon or the moon
a simple concept and a great execution make it so absorbing
likewise another gallery featuring one artist's modern paintings
abstract and colourfiil oil paintings on flat or enhanced surfaces
the afternoon spent and then a rest up back at our apartment
and into the night - a long walk to a chosen and distant piazza
some form of entertainment has been advertised - but - no luck
possibly a performance in the large basilica - duomo del santo
we decide to take a shot at replicating a splendid first night here
and so back to piazza severi to again sit outdoors for dinner
the lobster linguini is delicious as is the pinot grigio wine
time to reflect on our brief but totally enjoyable stay in padua...
