You’re standing before one of the world’s most famous opera houses—Teatro alla Scala! Commissioned by Maria Theresa of Austria(when Milan was under Austrian rule), it was built to replace the Royal Ducal Theatre, which burned down in 1776. The site chosen was that of the old Santa Maria alla Scala church (hence the name), while the design was entrusted to court architect Giuseppe Piermarini. Funded by Milanese aristocrats, the new theatre was completed in just two years. In 1778, La Scala’s curtains rose for the first time to L’Europa riconosciuta by Antonio Salieri. Since then, it has hosted the world’s greatest talents—Verdi, Paganini, Maria Callas, Pavarotti. Even war couldn’t silence it. Bombed in World War II, it was meticulously rebuilt and reopened in 1946 with a legendary concert led by Arturo Toscanini.