Dance, music, opera: Milan is undoubtedly a city rich in art and entertainment. Among its streets stand numerous theaters, many in operation for centuries, which hold a unique cultural heritage. Some are world-famous, others more hidden in the heart of the city, but all tell the story of Milan’s most elegant and passionate arts. Their halls, once frequented by Milanese nobility, hold such immortal works as those of Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. Today, as then, these century-old theaters continue to open the curtain on unforgettable performances, welcoming anyone who wants to be conquered by the magic of culture.
Litta Theater
Located inside Palazzo Litta, one of the most impressive Baroque residences of the Milanese nobility, the theater of the same name is the oldest in operation in Milan. Originally, it was a private hall for court performances and musical receptions, reserved for the Arese-Litta family and their guests. In the twentieth century, after a period of closure, the main hall was restored and reopened as a public theater, until today it became a venue for major events such as Candlelight concerts.
📍 Corso Magenta 24 – inside Palazzo Litta
📅 Origins: circa 1640-1670
Dal Verme Theater
Built by architect Giuseppe Pestagalli on behalf of the Dal Verme family, with over 3,000 seats this was one of the most capacious theaters of its time. Over the years the Teatro dal Verme became an important center for opera and symphonic music, where operas by Puccini, Leoncavallo and other great Italian composers debuted there. In the 1920s it was also one of the first theaters to show silent films accompanied by live music. After a renovation in the 1990s, in which, however, part of the original structure of the main hall was maintained, it is now home to the Orchestra dei Pomeriggi Musicali.
📍 Via San Giovanni sul Muro 2
📅 Opened on September 14, 1872
La Scala Theater
Probably the most famous theater in Italy, certainly the most renowned theater in Milan. The Teatro all Scala was created at the behest of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria after the Teatro Regio Ducale burned down. The project was entrusted to architect Giuseppe Piermarini, who built it in a very elegant neoclassical style. During the 19th century, Italy’s greatest composers, such as Verdi, Puccini and Donizetti, debuted at La Scala. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in the 1943 bombings and later rebuilt at the end of the war. Today, it hosts the greatest artists of classical music and opera, both Italian and international, and continues to make people dream with magical performances of great operas.
📍 Via Filodrammatici 2
📅 Opened on August 3, 1778
Carcano Theater
Designed by architect Luigi Canonica, Teatro Carcano was commissioned by a Milanese nobleman named Giovanni Carcano, who wished to offer the city a popular alternative theater to La Scala that was equally beautiful and prestigious. Opened on September 3, 1803 with Vincenzo Federici’s opera Zaira, over the years it hosted the likes of Paganini and Verdi. Today, after some renovations, it continues to offer a rich schedule of music and dance performances.
📍 Corso di Porta Romana 63
📅 Opened in 1803.
Teatro dei Filodrammatici
Right next to the Teatro alla Scala is the Teatro dei Filodrammatici, designed by Luigi Canonica, the same architect who designed the Teatro Carcano. The Teatro dei Filodrammatici takes its name from the “Società dei Filodrammatici,” or a group of theater-loving citizens who wanted to create a school and company of independent actors. The original building was in neoclassical style, but the original structure burned down in a fire, after which it was decided to rebuild the theater, which today retains its function and offers classic and innovative performances.
📍 Via Filodrammatici 1, next to La Scala
📅 Founded in 1798