(plural: Giornate) - irregular shaped section that can be plastered and painted in one day. The shapes more or less follow the composition so adjoining Giornate do not not have obvious dividing lines in the finished work.
From the Italian meaning 'day'. This is the term used to define the amount of work that can be carried out before the intonaco dries. Once the intonaco dries, no more paint can be added to the fresco, it will simply run off the surface.