After a fire destroyed Milan’s previous Teatro Ducal in 1776, some wealthy Milanese wrote Archduke Ferdinand I of Austria requesting a new theatre, but it was rejected by the Austrian governor. However, Empress Maria Theresa accepted the new theatre plan, and it was built on the former plot of the church of Santa Maria della Scala, hence the name La Scala.

The theater was initially illuminated by 84 oil lamps. To prevent fire, employees of the theater kept hundreds of water buckets in several rooms of the theatre. Eventually, the oil lamps were replaced with gas lamps, and in 1883 these were substituted by the buildings electrical light system. Many refurbishments followed, but the theatre retained its gallery for the larger, less wealthy, called loggione, where the audience was free to audibly criticise and judge performances. Many performers ‘sank or swam’ before the gallery.

La Scala was the ‘place of glory’ for all famous opera artists of the time, and also the most important stage in the career of some of the greatest names ever related to opera, such as Verdi, who premiered most of his operas here; though he once stated that the orchestra of the house modified his music. His last opera 'Falstaff' was performed at La Scala.

Besides being the most famous opera house, La Scala aims to transmit the greatness of the unique art of opera to new generations. It hosts the Academy for Performing Arts, which educates and trains up-and-coming talents. The La Scala museum is also a major attraction, which showcases many artifacts related to the history of this temple of opera.