Teatro alla Scala

Teatro alla Scala is among the most storied opera houses in the world, opened in 1778 on the site of the church of Santa Maria alla Scala in central Milan, Lombardy, and the spiritual home of Italian opera through premieres by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and Bellini. From the relatively restrained Neoclassical exterior on Piazza della Scala, visitors step into a horseshoe auditorium of red velvet, gilded stucco and six tiers of boxes rising to the gallery, crowned by a great chandelier. Most daytime visitors experience the theatre through the Museo Teatrale alla Scala, whose rooms display composers' portraits, historic costumes, instruments and memorabilia, and — when no rehearsal is underway — offer a glimpse into the auditorium from a box. The real experience, though, is a performance: the season of opera, ballet and concerts runs from the gala opening on 7 December, the feast of Sant'Ambrogio, through the following summer. A museum visit takes about an hour to ninety minutes; an evening at the opera is a full event in itself. The museum is busiest in late morning and on rainy days; performances sell out months ahead, though a limited number of same-day gallery tickets are released and standing-room seats can sometimes be had by queuing. Dress is smart for evening performances. The theatre faces the elegant Piazza della Scala with its Leonardo monument, a short walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II from the Duomo. For opera lovers, even the building's acoustics and the sense of history in the gilded boxes justify the visit, while the museum offers an accessible taste of La Scala's legacy for those who cannot secure a performance ticket.