One of the world's most famous opera houses, opened in 1778 and home to legendary premieres by Verdi, Puccini, and others. The season traditionally opens on December 7 (Sant'Ambrogio day, Milan's patron saint) with a major performance. Getting tickets for headline operas requires booking months in advance through the official site.
The Museo Teatrale alla Scala, inside the building, is worth visiting even without a performance — it documents the history of opera and La Scala through costumes, instruments, and portraits. The neoclassical auditorium can sometimes be viewed from the museum balcony.