5 things you didn’t know about Piazza Della Scala
The Piazza Della Scala, one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations and key stops on the route to follow in Leonardo da Vinci’s footsteps, is surrounded by a wide variety of fascinating sights. Using the information provided by Vox City’s self-guided audio tour, you can find them all. Furthermore, tune in to live audio commentary and learn about the area around Piazza Della Scala as you explore at your own leisure with detailed information on each attraction.
Located in the heart of city
The Teatro alla Scala, also known simply as La Scala, is the primary opera house in Milan, Italy’s second-most populated city. This majestic structure may be found in the middle of Milan, directly north of the city’s most recognized landmark, the Duomo of Milan. Located on the Piazza della Scala, the square was named for the theater. The Italian Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci, who spent the final years of his life in this city, is commemorated with a statue in this lovely public plaza. The square and opera house are linked to the Piazza del Duomo by the equally spectacular Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, often considered to be among the world’s finest retail centers.
A tribute to Leonardo da Vinci
The tall statue to Leonardo da Vinci, the city’s most spectacular memorial to the artist, stands in the middle of this central piazza, which is always teeming with tourists. It was sculpted by Pietro Magni and unveiled in 1872 after a long period of work and many debates. The poet Giosuè Carducci, the first Italian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, was extremely critical of the monument, calling it “ghastly” without any sort of euphemism.
Daniel Case / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
It replaced an even earlier theater and was constructed in the late 18th century
The opera house is now home to the Filarmonica della Scala as well as the La Scala Theater Chorus, La Scala Theater Ballet, and the La Scala Theater Orchestra. These are among the most prestigious in the world, and the opera house’s 250-year history undoubtedly contributes to its prestige. The “Teatro Regio Ducale,” the city’s primary theater from December 26, 1717, to February 25, 1776, was replaced by the current opera house, which opened in 1778. Tragically, this very modest arena burned to the ground in 1776, putting an end to the joyous annual carnival gala.
There were roughly 3,000 seats in the first theater
For many decades, the theater was the premier gathering spot for Milan’s aristocracy. So, 90 affluent citizens petitioned Ferdinand of Austria-Este (1754-1806), the Duchy of Milan’s governor, to fund the construction of a new theater. When it first opened, the theater had a total of about 3,000 seats spread between 678 boxes and 6 decks. It was the norm at the time for venues to not have seating on the main floor in front of the stage.
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After a two-year restoration, the opera house reopened in 2004
Due to bombing during World War II, the theater was rendered utterly worthless in 1943. But it was swiftly restored, and it reopened in 1946. From its inception in early 2002 until its completion in late 2004, the full refurbishment project lasted approximately three years. During this time, shows were held at the brand-new opera house Teatro degli Arcimboldi, located on the outskirts of the city.
George M. Groutas / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
The enormous €61 million price tag of the refurbishment is largely responsible for the continuation of opera performances. Although many contemporary conveniences were included into the theater, the architects made a concerted effort to preserve the building’s original historic character.
View of the entire complex / Jakub Halun / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Vox City’s self-guided tour
There’s a museum just next door named “Museo Teatro alla Scala” that explains the theater’s history in great detail. You may learn all about the theater’s most memorable moments in this museum’s exhibits. The museum’s collection also has a considerable number of genuine costumes worn in performances beginning in the late 18th century, in addition to paintings, statues, and papers from that time period. Wow, what a fantastic accumulation of items!
From the minute you arrive at your destination, you can begin exploring this area by listening to a self-guided audio tour provided by Vox City. They will give you a thorough rundown of the pivotal moments in the theater’s history. Also, a self-guided tour of Vox City allows you to visit many other Milanese attractions alongside this one. They are pros at making it simple for you to guide yourself, with features like custom navigation and a plethora of suggested walking routes.
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