La Scala
At first glance, the unassuming La Scala theatre building is situated in Piazza della Scala, which can be reached directly fromthe Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
La Scala is one of the most respected opera houses in the world. It hosts performances by some of the world’s most renowned opera singers, and attending a performance here is an unforgettable cultural experience.
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The name ‘Teatro alla Scala’ can be translated into Czech as ‘The Theatre on the Stairs’.
Repertoire and tickets for performances
Milan’s La Scala rivals the world’s finest opera houses, such as the Vienna State Operaand the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in terms of prestige.
La Scala stages the most famous historical operas, supplemented on an ongoing basis by current world premieres.
Perennial favourites in the repertoire include some of the most popular operas: *Don Giovanni*, *Rigoletto* and*The Capulets and the Montagues*.
Opera performances are complemented by ballet productions and classical music concerts.
Tickets for the most sought-after performances are often sold out months in advance; however, you can usually still get hold of at least a few tickets for lesser-known performances as late as 14 days beforehand. You can buy tickets online from the comfort of your own home on the official website:teatroallascala.ticketone.it.
La Scala ticket prices
The very cheapest tickets for lesser-known operas or daytime concerts are available from 30 eur.
Tickets for more popular performances during the main evening slot around 8.00 pm are available at prices rangingfrom130 eurto 500 eur depending on the seat location.
La Scala’s building and interior
If luck isn’t on your side and you can’t get tickets for one of the many performances, do take a guided tour of the venue. The six floors of boxes, inlaid with gold and lined with crimson velvet, are truly worth seeing.
The richly decorated and monumental interior, with its main auditorium, stands in stark contrast to the building’s rather unremarkable exterior. The auditorium seats up to 2,800 spectators and is one of the largest in Europe.
The theatre’s current building was opened in 1778 and rebuilt in 1838 in a pure Classical style.
A tour of La Scala and the museum
You can explore the theatre’s interiors and the adjacent museum even without attending a performance. It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
Tickets cost 12 eur for a specific date or 15 eur for an open-dated ticket valid on any date.
Official website:museoscala.org/en
How to get to La Scala
The opera house is situated right in the centre of Milan, just a short distance from Milan Cathedral. The ‘Teatro alla Scala’ stop on tram line 1 is right in front of the theatre, whilst the nearest metro station, ‘Duomo’ – where lines 1 and 3 intersect – is about 250 metres from La Scala.
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Any questions left?
If you have any questions or comments about the article...
What is the possibility to visit La Scala on 1 May? It's a public holiday in Italy, will the sights, shops and restaurants be open? Thank you.