Teatro alla Scala

Since 1778 Milan has been home to one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world. The Teatro alla Scala is often praised for its acoustics and the grandiose impression the interior leaves behind. The opera house has a neoclassicist design, with a stunning red and golden interior with six floors of golden balcony boxes from where you can view the grand podium.

Officially the theater has a capacity of 2030 seats, but in practise this is far below the actual capacity of the theater. Initially the building was able to house at least a thousand more guests. As you can imagine this exclusivity has ensured it can be quite difficult to get tickets to the opera house so you need to book well in advance.

It is worthy of note that the Teatro alla Scala also has a matching museum next to it. In the Museo Teatrale alla Scala you can find costumes, marionettes, musical instruments, set pieces and paintings documenting the history of opera. Visiting the museum is a great way to catch a glimpse of the life behind the theater.