# La Scala opera house, Milan > La Scala is the world's most famous opera house, opened in 1778 a few steps from the Duomo, where Verdi and Puccini premiered their works. You can get in for a performance or through the theatre museum, whose boxes look into the red-and-gold auditorium by day. Allow 45 minutes for the museum. Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/la-scala - City: [Milan](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan), Italy - YesGo score: 51/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 1 h - Entry: Paid - Opening hours: Museum daily by day; performances in the evening - With kids: Fine with kids - Museum: Paid, daily by day - Performances: Tickets at teatroallascala.org - 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) - Coordinates: 45.46750, 9.18917 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1778** — opened with Salieri's L'Europa riconosciuta (source: English Wikipedia) - **Piermarini** — designed by Giuseppe Piermarini (source: English Wikipedia) - **Scala** — named after the church of Santa Maria alla Scala (source: English Wikipedia) - **7 December** — season opening, the feast of St Ambrose (source: English Wikipedia) - **2002–2004** — major renovation by Mario Botta (source: English Wikipedia) ## A 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. > **Getting performance tickets** Tickets are sold on teatroallascala.org, and premieres sell out at once. The cheapest seats are in the upper galleries, some with restricted views; remaining tickets are sometimes released at the box office on the day. Dress smartly in the evening — shorts and sportswear are turned away. ## How to get there 1. Metro M1 or M3 to **Duomo**, then through the [Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/galleria-vittorio-emanuele) — 5 minutes. 2. Metro M3 to **Montenapoleone**, 5 minutes' walk. 3. Trams 1 and 2 to Piazza della Scala. 4. From [Milan Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/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 Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Check the programme and book online - [ ] Smart clothes for the evening - [ ] Visit the museum by day to see the house - [ ] See the Leonardo monument on the square - [ ] Walk through the Galleria to the Duomo ## Milan's museums: compare and choose Museums and galleries in Milan rated by YesGo. - [The Last Supper](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/last-supper) — YesGo score 72/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Paid, booking only - [San Siro Stadium](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/san-siro) — YesGo score 58/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Paid - [La Scala](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/la-scala) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Paid - [Sforza Castle](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/sforza-castle) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Courtyards free, museums paid - [Pinacoteca di Brera](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/pinacoteca-di-brera) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Paid - [Pinacoteca Ambrosiana](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/pinacoteca-ambrosiana) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Paid ## La Scala and around The Duomo, the Galleria, La Scala, Via Monte Napoleone and the Pinacoteca di Brera. 1. [Milan Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/milan-cathedral) — YesGo score 63/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Paid 2. [Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/galleria-vittorio-emanuele) — YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free 3. [La Scala](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/la-scala) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Paid 4. [Via Monte Napoleone](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/via-monte-napoleone) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free 5. [Pinacoteca di Brera](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/pinacoteca-di-brera) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Paid ## Don't mix it up La Scala isn't Naples' San Carlo or Venice's La Fenice — the three most famous opera houses in Italy. The "scala" comes from the church that stood here, not from a staircase. ## Tips - 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. ## How we checked History, auditorium and museum from English Wikipedia. Museum prices and hours weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia, La Scala - Official theatre site teatroallascala.org --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.