Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Milan, Italy
La Scala opera house, Milan
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Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Paid
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Museum daily by day; performances in the evening
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Museum
- Paid, daily by day
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Performances
- Tickets at teatroallascala.org
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Season
- Opens on 7 December, the feast of St Ambrose
- Highlights
- The auditorium from a box, costumes, portraits
- Time needed
- 45 minutes for the museum; an evening for a show
- Metro
- Duomo (M1, M3) or Montenapoleone (M3)
Key facts
1778opened with Salieri's L'Europa riconosciuta
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English WikipediaPiermarinidesigned by Giuseppe Piermarini
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English WikipediaScalanamed after the church of Santa Maria alla Scala
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English Wikipedia7 Decemberseason opening, the feast of St Ambrose
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English Wikipedia2002–2004major renovation by Mario Botta
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English WikipediaA short history
Designed by Giuseppe Piermarini, the theatre opened in 1778 with Antonio Salieri's *L'Europa riconosciuta*. It takes its name from the church of Santa Maria alla Scala, demolished to make way for it, and has been the heart of Italian opera ever since — one of the most prestigious stages in the world for singers and conductors.
Verdi's *Nabucco*, *Otello* and *Falstaff* premiered here, as did Puccini's *Madama Butterfly* and *Turandot*. In 2002–2004 architect Mario Botta renovated the house with a new stage tower and modern machinery while keeping the historic auditorium.
The auditorium and façade
Outside, the neoclassical façade is surprisingly restrained, with an arcade where carriages once drew up. Inside is a classic Italian horseshoe in red velvet and gold — stalls plus six tiers of boxes and galleries, around 2,000 seats, under a great crystal chandelier, with famously fine acoustics. Opposite stands a monument to Leonardo da Vinci and his pupils, and beside the theatre the Galleria leads to the Duomo in five minutes.
The La Scala Museum
The Museo Teatrale alla Scala, entered to the left of the façade, holds portraits of composers and singers, costumes, set designs, old instruments and Verdi's personal belongings. The real draw is the chance to look into the auditorium from a box: when there's no rehearsal, visitors step into the boxes for a view of the whole red-and-gold house, the stage and the chandelier. During rehearsals the boxes close — but you may hear the orchestra tuning up instead. Buy museum tickets at the door or online; the small shop sells recordings, books and old programmes.
What to see
- The auditorium from a box — the gold horseshoe and chandelier.
- Theatre museum — costumes, portraits, Verdi's belongings.
- Piermarini's façade — with its carriage arcade.
- Piazza della Scala — the Leonardo monument.
- A performance — opera or ballet in the evening.
- Season opening — 7 December, the event of the year.
How to get there
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Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is about 3 min away on foot.
- Piazza del Duomo is about 5 min away on foot.
- Milan Cathedral is about 6 min away on foot.
More tips
- Metro M1 or M3 to Duomo, then through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II — 5 minutes.
- Metro M3 to Montenapoleone, 5 minutes' walk.
- Trams 1 and 2 to Piazza della Scala.
- From Milan Cathedral, 5 minutes on foot.
Is La Scala worth it?
Yes. For opera or ballet lovers, an evening at La Scala is the highlight of Milan — hunt for tickets early. Even if you're not, pop into the museum: the view of the legendary house from a box takes five minutes and stays with you. It pairs easily with the Duomo and the Galleria, five minutes away.
Before you go
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Milan's museums: compare and choose
Museums and galleries in Milan rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| The Last Supper | 72 | 30 min | Paid, booking only | 25 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Siro Stadium | 58 | 1 h 30 min | Paid | 5.2 km |
| La Scalayou are here | 51 | 1 h | Paid | — |
| Sforza Castle | 48 | 2 h | Courtyards free, museums paid | 14 min walk |
| Pinacoteca di Brera | 37 | 2 h | Paid | 9 min walk |
| Pinacoteca Ambrosiana | 37 | 1 h 30 min | Paid | 9 min walk |
La Scala and around
The Duomo, the Galleria, La Scala, Via Monte Napoleone and the Pinacoteca di Brera.
- Milan Cathedral1 h 30 min · Paid
- 3 min walk from the previous stopGalleria Vittorio Emanuele II30 min · Free
- 4 min walk from the previous stopLa Scalayou are here1 h · Paid
- 8 min walk from the previous stopVia Monte Napoleone45 min · Free
- 12 min walk from the previous stopPinacoteca di Brera2 h · Paid
5 places · about 6 h 12 min with walks · 27 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- Visit the museum by day for the box view.
- Book opera tickets early.
- Dress up in the evening.
- The Galleria and Duomo are 5 minutes away.
Questions
How can I visit La Scala?
With a performance ticket from teatroallascala.org, or by day through the theatre museum, which lets visitors into the boxes.
Can you see the auditorium without a show?
Yes, via the museum — when there's no rehearsal you can step into a box overlooking the house.
When does the La Scala season open?
On 7 December, the feast of St Ambrose, Milan's patron saint.
When was La Scala built?
It opened in 1778, designed by Giuseppe Piermarini.
Is there a dress code at La Scala?
Smart dress in the evening; shorts and sportswear aren't allowed at performances.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia, La Scala
- Official theatre site teatroallascala.org
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