La Scala Theater

Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este commissioned the construction of a new Ducal Theater when a fire destroyed the previous one in 1776. The opera house was built on the site where the former Church of Santa Maria stood. alla Scala, hence the name of Teatro alla Scala. Like other theaters of its time, La Scala also had a casino in its early years.

In 1943, during World War II, the theater was heavily damaged by bombing. It was rebuilt three years later. In 2002, the Opera House closed for two years while it was being renovated and opened in November 2004 with the inaugural Europa performance recognized by Antonio Salieri, also the opera performed when the theater was inaugurated in 1778.

Many famous operas had their first productions in La Scala, such as Othello, Verdi's Nabucco or Giacomo Puccini's Madame Butterfly.

In the early years, composer Giuseppe Verdi did not want his work to be represented in the Teatro alla Scala because he believed that the orchestra had modified his compositions. However, he later established a very close relationship with the Opera House.

The Theater Museum contains a large collection of paintings, busts, costumes, and several other objects related to the world of theater and theatre.

The visit includes exploring the theater's grand foyer, an elegant and sparsely decorated hall. You will then be taken to small red satin-upholstered chairs, where the high society enjoyed and still enjoys the various operas and ballets performed at La Scala.

The huge auditorium was made of wood and covered with red velvet, decorated with yellow stucco. The stage is lit by a giant crystal chandelier with 383 bulbs.

A tour of the Theater Museum is super fun because you'll get to see parts of La Scala where there's no limit, like boxes.

If you want to visit the Teatro alla Scala, you can only do so by purchasing a ticket to one of its operas or ballets, or by visiting the Theater Museum.

Place della Scala

Between the Theater and the Galleria Vittorio Manuel II is Piazza della Scala, a lively square with a large statue of Leonardo da Vinci in its center. Here you can rest on benches surrounded by lovely green trees.

Business hours:

Every day from 9am to 5pm.

Fare

Adults: €7 (US$7.6)

Students and Seniors (over 65): €5 (US$5.4)

Children (under 12 years old): free admission.