Teatro alla Scala
Milan
The Teatro alla Scala is the temple of opera worldwide, among the most prestigious opera houses there are. Behind its sober neoclassical façade hides an auditorium of red velvet and gilded boxes. Follow the treasure map through music, legends and the great voices of history.
The history of the Teatro alla Scala
The theatre opened in 1778, after a fire had destroyed the earlier Teatro Regio Ducale. It rose on the site of the church of Santa Maria alla Scala, from which it took its name, to a design by the architect Giuseppe Piermarini. It soon became Europe's leading opera house, linked to the names of the greatest Italian composers.
What to see
The horseshoe-shaped auditorium, with its four tiers of boxes and two galleries and the imposing central chandelier, is the heart of the theatre. Next door is the Museo Teatrale alla Scala, which gathers instruments, costumes, portraits and memorabilia linked to the history of music. The neoclassical façade faces the square of the same name, in the middle of which stands the monument to Leonardo da Vinci.
Curiosities and legends
La Scala saw the world premieres of key operas by Giuseppe Verdi, who was deeply tied to this theatre, as well as works by Rossini, Bellini and Puccini. Since 1951 the season has opened every year on 7 December, the feast of Sant'Ambrogio, Milan's patron saint, on a night of great prestige.
Visiting the Teatro alla Scala
You can attend operas, ballets and concerts during the season, or visit the museum and look out from a box to admire the auditorium. The theatre is a few steps from the Duomo, reached through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, in the monumental heart of the city.
