The Teatro alla Scala, better known as ” la Scala “, is one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, as well as one of the most important attractions in Milan . For over 240 years, the structure has been the stage for the great personalities of the show, both opera and classical music and dance. In addition to the spectators, the Scala has also opened its doors to tourists and onlookers, eager to visit its rooms. Let’s see together how to get there, ticket prices and advice for the visit .
Timetables and prices
- Timetables: in the Museum visits are held from Monday to Sunday, in the absence of shows or rehearsals, from 4:00 pm in English and at 4:45 pm in Italian; the personalized path La Scale and its secrets is available by reservation only. Ansaldo scale workshops , Tuesday and Thursday, according to the availability of the calendar for individuals, while groups and schools from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00
- Best time to avoid queues : guided tours take place all by reservation or in case of availability so there is no risk of running into queues
- Ticket cost: visit to the Museum + Theater € 25.00 per person for a maximum of 20 participants – buy online ; La Scala and its Secrets € 500.00 for 1 to 5 participants, € 1,000.00 for 5 to 10 participants; cost of the full ticket for the visit to the Ansaldo scale laboratories € 25.00. ATTENTION: for the visit to the Laboratories it is mandatory to purchase online, and the visit is confirmed only when 4 participants are reached. For more information on how to book, visit the official website
- Reduced : Scala Ansaldo Workshops under € 1815.00 per person
- Free : for disabled people with a companion
What to see and how to visit the Teatro alla Scala
The visit to the Teatro alla Scala is divided into several guided tours:
- Museum , which includes a panoramic visit of the Theater Hall from the panoramic point of the third tier boxes, the entrance foyer, the royal box, the historic boxes, the “behind the scenes”, to discover the mechanism of the stage. The visit lasts approximately 45 minutes.
- Ansaldo scale laboratories , are the magical place where the sets of the shows come to life. The route crosses the Benois Pavilion and the Caramba Pavilion , where it is also possible to visit the Costume Warehouse. The duration of the visit varies from 60 to 75 minutes.
- La Scala and its secrets is a personalized and reserved path, which allows you to visit historic boxes, royal box, entrance foyer, stalls, stage mechanism, prompter’s hole, scenic tower, gallery, gallery foyer, view of the hall from interior of the chandelier. The visit lasts 90 minutes.
Useful tips for visiting the attraction
- Ticket for multiple attractions : if you are interested in visiting the other main attractions of Milan, buy the cumulative ticket for Milan Cathedral, La Scala Theater and Sforzesco Castle
- Events for children and families : the Museum organizes three different types of workshops dedicated to children. Each workshop also includes a visit to the Theater Museum and the Theater. For more information, see the Children’s Workshops page
- Beware of restrictions : it is possible to take pictures but without flash, it is not possible to access with food or water bottles, access to animals is not allowed
- The calendar of visits is subject to variations : we therefore recommend that you always check the official website of the theater , before going to the box office. Unless you have booked the path reserved for children, it is not recommended to take them with you on other guided tours
Where is it and how to get there
- On foot : the Teatro alla Scala is located in the historic center of Milan, in Piazza della Scala , in front of Palazzo Marino, the seat of the Municipality. The theater is served by any public transport, and is therefore easily reachable on foot, with a short walk –
- By bus : Line 61, stop via Verdi – via dell’Orso
- By metro : MM1 Duomo stop (Red Line) MM3 Montenapoleone stop (Yellow Line)
- By train : from the Central station take the MM3 underground line, and then get off at the Montenapoleone stop – from the Cadorna station, take the MM1, Cordusio or Duomo stop
- By tram : Tram n ° 1, stop via Manzoni – piazza della Scala – Tram n ° 2, stop via Manzoni – piazza della Scala
- By car : around the theater there are two guarded car parks, the Rinascente car park in via Agnello, and the underground car park in Piazza Diaz . The parking lots are not for the exclusive use of the spectators of the Theater, so you risk finding them full. We therefore recommend the use of public transport
Historical notes, curiosities and practical info: what to know in brief
The Teatro alla Scala was built on the ashes of the Ducal Theater in 1776 by the will of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, and owes its name to the place on which it was built, that is the site of the church of Santa Maria alla Scala. Inaugurated in 1778, on the night of Santo Stefano, on the occasion of the crowded premiere of Ponchielli’s Mona Lisa: given the importance of the event, 2,450 electric bulbs were lit, giving a new atmosphere to the performance, and making La Scala the first illuminated theater with electricity.
Another curiosity linked to the famous theater is due to its boxes, which belonged to individual families, free to decorate them as they pleased. In this way, depending on the pomp it was possible to recognize the rank of the family that owned it. Only the curtains had to be of a strictly uniform color and, behind them, there were those who were preparing coffee or something else to eat. And again, in the past the 700 chairs intended for the lower classes, and present in the stalls, could be moved freely, so as to allow the actors to dance in the area, and even ride horses.
Today, the main entrance of the theater is in Piazza della Scala, but spectators with a gallery ticket enter from the entrance of the Theater Museum in Largo Ghiringhelli.
