Photo credits

La Scala Opera Theatre

This is the reason why tourists come to Milan. It is one of the world's most prestigious opera houses.

It was opened on the 3rd August 1778 under the will of Maria Teresa d'Austria, to replace the Royal Ducal Theatre which was destroyed by a fire in 1776. It was designed by Giuseppe Piermarini, the great neo–classical architect and it was opened by Salieri's opera, "L'Europa Riconosciuta". Later the ballet was included and the repertoire got extended. The Scala Theatre was destroyed during the second World War, and it was rebuilt and reopened by Toscanini. The theatre closed in 2001 because of the restoration but the new season was opened in december 2004, with the opera which consacrated the first opening in 1778, the Salieri's one directed by Riccardo Muti.

Address: Piazza della Scala
Phone: +39 02 860775 (to book) / +39 02 88791 (exchange)
How to get there: Metro line 1
Web: www.teatroallascala.org
Find here more information about La Scala Museum.

Teatro Nuovo

It was founded in 1938 and designed by the architect Lancia. It was run by Remigio Paone, Luigi Pirandello's friend until 1977. Many important authors represented their works in the Teatro Nuovo for example Peppino de Filippo and his "Natale in casa Cupiello". This theatre has always tried to pick all the innovation in the show domain.

Address: Piazza San Babila
Phone: +39 02 76000086 (to book)
How to get there:
METRO: San Babila
TRAM: 2,3, 14, 27
BUS: 37, 54, 60
Web: www.teatronuovo.it

Teatro Leonardo da Vinci

It was founded in 1979 by Fiorenzo Grassi and Gianni Valle. It was originally called Teatro di Portaromana until the theatre company Teatridithalia has expanded to occupy this theatre which change its name in Leonardo and the Elfo theatre. It represents drama: Fassbinder Rimbaud Camus and Pasolini.

Address: Via Ampere 1
Phone: +39 02 26681166
How to get there:
METRO: Piola
BUS: 62, 90, 91
Web: www.elfo.org

Photo credits

Teatro Manzoni

It has a big tradition of spectacles, writers and directors, since 1850, when seven noblemen decided to found this theatre to renovate the importance of the prose. It was opened by "I martiri" of Carlo Torelli , "Amore senza stima" of Carlo Ferrari "Kean" by Dumas and many others. Nowadays it offers Sunday–morning jazz concerts too.

Address: Via Manzoni 42
Phone: +39 02 7636901
How to get there:
METRO: Montenapoleone
BUS: 61, 94
TRAM: 1, 2, 20,
Web: www.teatromanzoni.it

Teatro Dal Verme

It takes this name by the ancient Milanese Dal Verme family. The architect Giuseppe Pestagalli was commissioned to realize the building, which had a capacity of 3000 seats and full 19th century theatre architecture's features. It was realized in a very short period of time and opened in 1872, in just one year and a half. Destroyed during World War II and restored three years later, in 1946, it was long used as a cinema and then as a place to host music events and concerts.

Address: Via San Giovanni sul Muro, 2
Phone: +39 02 87905
How to get there:
METRO: M1 Cairoli, M1 and M2 Cadorna, M2 Lanza
Tram: 1, 3, 4, 12, 14, 19, 24, 27
Bus: 43, 50, 57, 58, 61, 70, 94
Train station: Milano Cadorna
Web: www.dalverme.org

25% discount on this theatre's entrance if you have a Milano Card.
Click here for more information and purchase details about the Milano Card.

San Babila Theatre

Built in 1964 by architect Gottardi, as asked by Cardinal Montini – who turned into Milan's Archbishop then and future Pope Paolo VI. The San Babila theatre is a modern building, equipped for simultaneous translation for international congresses and a room with perfect acoustic. It represents in some way the temple of prose, and greatest Italian actors – such as Paolo Stoppa, Aroldo Tieri, Peppino De Filippo, Nino Taranto, Glauco Mauri, Rossella Falk, Ernesto Calindri, Lauretta Masiero, Giulio Bosetti, Enrico Maria Salerno, Renzo Montagnani, Giancarlo Sbragia, Lella Brignone, Gianni Santuccio, Sara Ferrati and many others – have performed on its stage.

Address: C.so Venezia, 2/A
Phone: +39 02 795469
Web: www.teatrosanbabila.it

25% discount on this theatre's entrance if you have a Milano Card.
Click here for more information and purchase details about the Milano Card.

Teatro Verdi

It contains productions of the Teatro del Buratto and has a spotlight on promotion of young talents and looking for such talents.

Address: Via Pastrengo 16
Phone: +39 02 6880038
How to get there: Metro Garibaldi F.S–MM2
Web: www.teatrodelburatto.it

Photo credits

Piccolo Teatro (Teatro Grassi)

It was founded in 1947 by Paolo Grassi and Giorgio Strehler, the most important italian theatre director of the second half of the 20th century. The first play acted was "L'albergo dei poveri" by Gorkij. Although it offers only 500 seats, and a little stage, the Piccolo Teatro is a theatre of art for anyone, and it proposes an international and different repertory. The Piccolo Teatro remains as the historical head office while there are two other theatres built in different periods, which are part of the Piccolo Teatro.
See Nuovo Piccolo (Teatro Strehler) and Teatro Studio.

Address: Via Rovello 2
Phone: +39 02 72333222
How to get there:
METRO: Cordusio
BUS: 43, 57, 61, 70
TRAM: 1, 3, 4, 12, 14, 19, 24, 27
Web: http://www.piccoloteatro.org/

Nuovo Piccolo (Teatro Strehler)

By the 70s Giorgio Strehler wanted to built a second theatre larger than the previos one. Now it presents ballet and the Mediterranean Theatre Festival.

Address: Largo Greppi
Phone: +39 02 72333222
How to get there:
METRO: Lanza
BUS: 43, 57, 61, 70
TRAM: 1, 3, 4, 12, 14

Teatro Studio

Address: Via Rivoli 6
Phone: +39 02 72333222
How to get there:
METRO: Lanza
BUS: 43, 57, 61, 70
TRAM: 1, 3, 4, 12, 14

This is an experimental theatre opened in 1987.

Auditorium of Milan

It represents the house of music of the Giuseppe Verdi Symphonic Orchestra and Choir of Milan. Inaugurated in 1999, it became in a few years, one of the most important cultural poles of the city. The hall of the auditorium has been conceived and realized to host different activities such as symphonic music concerts, choral and chamber, jazz and light music, recordings by digital systems, promotion of events by satellite TV and projection room by a big screen.

Address: Corso San Gottardo, 39
Phone: +39 02 833891
How to get there:
BUS: 59, 71
TRAM: 3, 9, 15, 29, 30
Web: www.laverdi.org

25% discount on this theatre's entrance if you have a Milano Card.
Click here for more information and purchase details about the Milano Card.

Smeraldo Theatre

Started in 1940 as a hall for cinema, it was turned into a space dedicated only to theatre during 80‘, under the artistic direction of Gianmario Longoni. The Smeraldo theatre currently represents an ideal and special stage for Italian and international performances, including musicals and recitals interpreted by great actors. Just to mention some: Evita, A Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera, The Rocky Horror Show, Cats, Mamma Mia!. It gives particular attention to dance, so that we can say that artists like Moses Pendleton, David Ezralow and David Parsons are regular guests of the theatre.

Address: Piazza XXV Aprile, 10
Phone: +39 02 36639300
How to get there:
METRO: MM2 – verde (Moscova, Garibaldi)
TRAM: 11, 29, 30, 33
BUS: 94
Web: www.teatrosmeraldo.it

15% discount on this theatre's entrance if you have a Milano Card.
Click here for more information and purchase details about the Milano Card.