La Scala Theatre is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Built in 1778, it has long been a central stage for opera, classical music, ballet, and drama, shaping European cultural history for over two centuries.

La Scala has been home to legendary performers, but none is more iconic than Maria Callas, known as “La Divina.” Many memories of her extraordinary career are preserved here, including magnificent stage costumes displayed in the Costume Museum. According to popular legend, La Divina’s spirit still haunts the stage—a tribute to the deep bond between Callas and the theatre she loved most, and which, in turn, celebrated her unparalleled artistry.

Maria Callas embodied dramatic opera like no other, performing unforgettable roles in works such as Iphigénie en Tauride, La Traviata, and Anna Bolena. She was famously meticulous about her stage presence and costumes, demanding absolute perfection—a discipline refined under the guidance of her artistic director Luchino Visconti. Together, Callas and Visconti redefined opera acting, drawing inspiration from great dramatic actresses such as Sarah Bernhardt and Eleonora Duse, transforming opera into a powerful theatrical experience.

A visit to La Scala Theatre and Museum offers a journey into a world of elegance and passion. If you are fortunate, you may even witness a rehearsal, experiencing the living energy of the stage. Even for those who are not opera specialists, the museum and theatre remain deeply evocative spaces. La Scala is also a temple of classical ballet: legends such as Rudolf Nureyev in the 1980s, and more recently Roberto Bolle, have been celebrated as étoiles on this historic stage.

From La Scala, the walking tour continues to the Brera district, once the city’s bohemian and artistic quarter. In the past, its streets and private salons were known as discreet meeting places connected to Milan’s erotic and intellectual life. Today, Brera is a refined neighborhood of art galleries, fashion houses, and cafés. Here you will also see the monument to Cesare Beccaria, the pioneering jurist who first theorized the abolition of the death penalty.

By metro, the tour then reaches Porta Venezia, Milan’s most vibrant LGBTQ+ district. Via Lecco is the heart of the area, lined with bars and restaurants and animated by a lively nightlife. The experience concludes with a visit to RED Bar, one of the city’s classic gay venues, connecting Milan’s operatic past with its contemporary queer culture.