diff --git a/frontend/src/viewers/CtePlanViewer.test.tsx b/frontend/src/viewers/CtePlanViewer.test.tsx
index 925513a7..aeab867d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/viewers/CtePlanViewer.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/viewers/CtePlanViewer.test.tsx
@@ -68,19 +68,15 @@ test("renders strategy, question, and a chain strip with CTE names in order", ()
   expect(screen.getAllByText("impianti_recenti").length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
 });
 
-test("uses compact vertical and responsive lateral CTE card padding", () => {
+test("uses compact CTE section rhythm with moderate lateral padding", () => {
   const { container } = render(<CtePlanViewer plan={plan} />);
-
   for (const header of container.querySelectorAll('[data-slot="card-header"]')) {
-    expect(header).toHaveClass("px-3", "py-2", "sm:px-4", "[&.border-b]:pb-2");
-    expect(header).not.toHaveClass("p-4", "sm:p-5", "sm:[&.border-b]:pb-5");
+    expect(header).toHaveClass("gap-2", "px-3", "py-2", "sm:px-4", "[&.border-b]:pb-2");
+    expect(header).not.toHaveClass("gap-3", "p-4", "sm:p-5");
   }
   for (const content of container.querySelectorAll('[data-slot="card-content"]')) {
-    expect(content).toHaveClass("px-3", "py-2", "sm:px-4");
-    expect(content).not.toHaveClass("p-4", "sm:p-5");
-  }
-  for (const card of container.querySelectorAll('[data-slot="card"]')) {
-    expect(card).toHaveClass("shadow-none");
+    expect(content).toHaveClass("gap-3", "px-3", "py-2", "sm:px-4");
+    expect(content).not.toHaveClass("gap-5", "p-4", "sm:p-5");
   }
 });
 
@@ -142,7 +138,7 @@ test("groups filters in one bordered divided list with accessible padded rows",
     expect(list).toHaveClass("border", "divide-y");
     for (const filter of filters) {
       expect(filter.parentElement).toBe(list);
-      expect(filter).toHaveClass("px-3", "py-2", "sm:px-4");
+      expect(filter).toHaveClass("px-3", "py-1", "sm:px-4");
       expect(filter).not.toHaveClass("p-3", "sm:p-4");
     }
     lists.push(list!);
@@ -161,22 +157,23 @@ test("renders rationale as a plain top-divided section", () => {
   expect(rationale).not.toHaveClass("border-l-2", "bg-primary/5", "rounded-lg");
 });
 
-test("uses the same compact padding for table rows and rationale dividers", () => {
+test("compacts table, filter, detail, and rationale rows", () => {
   render(<CtePlanViewer plan={plan} />);
   const card = getCteCard("pazienti_idonei");
-  const tableName = within(card).getByText("pazienti");
-  expect(tableName.parentElement).toHaveClass("px-3", "py-2", "sm:px-4");
-  expect(tableName.parentElement).not.toHaveClass("p-3", "sm:p-4");
+  const tableRow = within(card).getByText("pazienti").parentElement;
+  expect(tableRow).toHaveClass("px-3", "py-1", "sm:px-4");
 
-  const filterRationale = within(card).getByText("Solo pazienti in follow-up").parentElement;
-  expect(filterRationale).toHaveClass("pt-2");
-  expect(filterRationale).not.toHaveClass("pt-3");
+  const filter = within(card).getByRole("group", { name: "Filter 1" });
+  expect(filter).toHaveClass("space-y-2", "px-3", "py-1", "sm:px-4");
+  expect(filter.firstElementChild).toHaveClass("gap-2");
+  const filterDetails = within(card).getByText("Solo pazienti in follow-up").parentElement;
+  expect(filterDetails).toHaveClass("gap-y-1", "pt-1");
 
-  const cteRationale = within(card)
+  const rationale = within(card)
     .getByText("Base della catena: riduce il volume prima dei join")
     .closest("section");
-  expect(cteRationale).toHaveClass("border-t", "pt-2");
-  expect(cteRationale).not.toHaveClass("pt-4");
+  expect(rationale).toHaveClass("pt-1");
+  expect(within(rationale!).getByText("Rationale")).toHaveClass("mb-1");
 });
 
 test("shows 'no dependencies' for a CTE with an empty depends_on", () => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/viewers/CtePlanViewer.tsx b/frontend/src/viewers/CtePlanViewer.tsx
index 4e95c051..53e5138e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/viewers/CtePlanViewer.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/viewers/CtePlanViewer.tsx
@@ -16,34 +16,34 @@ function FilterRow({ filter, index }: { filter: CtePlanFilter; index: number })
     <div
       role="group"
       aria-label={`Filter ${index}`}
-      className="min-w-0 space-y-3 px-3 py-2 sm:px-4"
+      className="min-w-0 space-y-2 px-3 py-1 sm:px-4"
     >
-      <div className="grid min-w-0 grid-cols-1 gap-3 md:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_minmax(5rem,auto)_minmax(0,1fr)]">
+      <div className="grid min-w-0 grid-cols-1 gap-2 md:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_minmax(5rem,auto)_minmax(0,1fr)]">
         <div className="min-w-0 space-y-1">
           <p className={FIELD_LABEL}>Column</p>
-          <code className="block min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] font-mono text-xs leading-relaxed text-foreground">
+          <code className="block min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] font-mono text-xs leading-4 text-foreground">
             {filter.column}
           </code>
         </div>
         <div className="min-w-0 space-y-1 md:text-center">
           <p className={FIELD_LABEL}>Operator</p>
-          <code className="block min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] font-mono text-xs font-semibold leading-relaxed text-primary">
+          <code className="block min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] font-mono text-xs font-semibold leading-4 text-primary">
             {filter.op}
           </code>
         </div>
         <div className="min-w-0 space-y-1">
           <p className={FIELD_LABEL}>Value</p>
-          <code className="block min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] font-mono text-xs leading-relaxed text-foreground">
+          <code className="block min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] font-mono text-xs leading-4 text-foreground">
             {filter.value}
           </code>
         </div>
       </div>
       {(filter.description || filter.rationale) && (
-        <div className="grid min-w-0 gap-x-4 gap-y-2 border-t border-border/50 pt-2 md:grid-cols-[5.5rem_minmax(0,1fr)]">
+        <div className="grid min-w-0 gap-x-4 gap-y-1 border-t border-border/50 pt-1 md:grid-cols-[5.5rem_minmax(0,1fr)]">
           {filter.description && (
             <>
               <span className={FIELD_LABEL}>Description</span>
-              <p className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] text-xs leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground">
+              <p className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] text-xs leading-4 text-muted-foreground">
                 {filter.description}
               </p>
             </>
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ function FilterRow({ filter, index }: { filter: CtePlanFilter; index: number })
           {filter.rationale && (
             <>
               <span className={FIELD_LABEL}>Rationale</span>
-              <p className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] text-xs leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground">
+              <p className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] text-xs leading-4 text-muted-foreground">
                 {filter.rationale}
               </p>
             </>
@@ -67,25 +67,25 @@ function CteCard({ cte, total }: { cte: CtePlanCte; total: number }) {
 
   return (
     <Card className="gap-0 rounded-lg border py-0 shadow-none">
-      <CardHeader className="gap-3 rounded-t-lg border-b border-border/60 bg-muted/15 px-3 py-2 sm:px-4 [&.border-b]:pb-2">
+      <CardHeader className="gap-2 rounded-t-lg border-b border-border/60 bg-muted/15 px-3 py-2 sm:px-4 [&.border-b]:pb-2">
         <div className="grid min-w-0 grid-cols-[auto_minmax(0,1fr)] items-center gap-2.5">
           <Badge variant="outline" className="font-mono">
             CTE {cte.index}/{total}
           </Badge>
-          <h3 className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] font-mono text-sm font-medium leading-relaxed">
+          <h3 className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] font-mono text-sm font-medium leading-5">
             {cte.name}
           </h3>
         </div>
         {cte.purpose && (
-          <p className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] text-sm leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground">
+          <p className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] text-sm leading-5 text-muted-foreground">
             {cte.purpose}
           </p>
         )}
       </CardHeader>
-      <CardContent className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-5 px-3 py-2 sm:px-4">
-        <div className="grid min-w-0 gap-4 md:grid-cols-2">
+      <CardContent className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-3 px-3 py-2 sm:px-4">
+        <div className="grid min-w-0 gap-3 md:grid-cols-2">
           <section className="min-w-0">
-            <h4 className="thot-label mb-2">Depends on</h4>
+            <h4 className="thot-label mb-1">Depends on</h4>
             {dependsOn.length ? (
               <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-wrap gap-1.5">
                 {dependsOn.map((dependency) => (
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ function CteCard({ cte, total }: { cte: CtePlanCte; total: number }) {
 
           {cte.keys && cte.keys.length > 0 && (
             <section className="min-w-0">
-              <h4 className="thot-label mb-2">Keys</h4>
+              <h4 className="thot-label mb-1">Keys</h4>
               <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-wrap gap-1.5">
                 {cte.keys.map((key) => (
                   <Chip key={key}>{key}</Chip>
@@ -111,18 +111,18 @@ function CteCard({ cte, total }: { cte: CtePlanCte; total: number }) {
 
         {cte.tables && cte.tables.length > 0 && (
           <section className="min-w-0">
-            <h4 className="thot-label mb-2">Tables</h4>
+            <h4 className="thot-label mb-1">Tables</h4>
             <div className="min-w-0 divide-y divide-border/50 rounded-lg border border-border/60">
               {cte.tables.map((table) => (
                 <div
                   key={table.name}
-                  className="grid min-w-0 gap-1 px-3 py-2 sm:px-4 md:grid-cols-[minmax(10rem,0.8fr)_minmax(0,1.2fr)] md:gap-4"
+                  className="grid min-w-0 gap-1 px-3 py-1 sm:px-4 md:grid-cols-[minmax(10rem,0.8fr)_minmax(0,1.2fr)] md:gap-4"
                 >
-                  <code className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] font-mono text-xs leading-relaxed text-foreground">
+                  <code className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] font-mono text-xs leading-4 text-foreground">
                     {table.name}
                   </code>
                   {table.description && (
-                    <p className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] text-xs leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground">
+                    <p className="min-w-0 whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] text-xs leading-4 text-muted-foreground">
                       {table.description}
                     </p>
                   )}
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ function CteCard({ cte, total }: { cte: CtePlanCte; total: number }) {
 
         {cte.filters && cte.filters.length > 0 && (
           <section className="min-w-0">
-            <h4 className="thot-label mb-2">Filters</h4>
+            <h4 className="thot-label mb-1">Filters</h4>
             <div className="min-w-0 divide-y divide-border/50 rounded-lg border border-border/60">
               {cte.filters.map((f, i) => (
                 <FilterRow key={`${f.column}-${i}`} filter={f} index={i + 1} />
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ function CteCard({ cte, total }: { cte: CtePlanCte; total: number }) {
 
         {cte.output_columns && cte.output_columns.length > 0 && (
           <section className="min-w-0">
-            <h4 className="thot-label mb-2">Output columns</h4>
+            <h4 className="thot-label mb-1">Output columns</h4>
             <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-wrap gap-1.5">
               {cte.output_columns.map((column) => (
                 <Chip key={column}>{column}</Chip>
@@ -155,9 +155,9 @@ function CteCard({ cte, total }: { cte: CtePlanCte; total: number }) {
         )}
 
         {cte.rationale && (
-          <section className="min-w-0 border-t border-border/60 pt-2">
-            <h4 className="thot-label mb-1.5">Rationale</h4>
-            <p className="whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] text-sm leading-relaxed text-foreground/90">
+          <section className="min-w-0 border-t border-border/60 pt-1">
+            <h4 className="thot-label mb-1">Rationale</h4>
+            <p className="whitespace-pre-wrap [overflow-wrap:anywhere] text-sm leading-5 text-foreground/90">
               {cte.rationale}
             </p>
           </section>