La Scala is one of the world’s grand opera houses. Founded in 1778, through its long and illustrious history it’s collaborated with legendary artists as diverse and talented as Giuseppe Verdi, Rudolf Nureyev, Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti. Once the meeting place of wealthy and aristocratic Milanese, its golden gilded boxes are still the place to rub shoulders with the city’s crème de la crème, as in days gone by.

The opera season begins December 7, the day of Sant’Ambrogio, and runs until July. Ballet and orchestral performances can be attended all year long (except in August). Otherwise, if you want to delve into the rich 200-year history of La Scala, guided tours of both the theater and the museum are readily available. Not only do you get to explore behind the stages and look at costumes, set design, musical instruments and manuscripts (including Verdi's Messa da Requiem and Rossini's Tancredi), there’s also a plethora of theatrical posters, correspondences and other memorabilia.