Teatro alla Scala

The austere facade of Milan’s legendary opera house, Teatro alla Scala (La Scala) seems at odds with its sumptuous six-tiered interior, all chandeliers and scarlet-silk-lined private boxes. The disparity came about because at the time it was built in 1778, it was on a narrow street blocked by houses, making it impossible to admire the facade in any case. These have since been demolished to create the square out front, Piazza della Scala, revealing the underwhelming frontage.

Attending a performance is incredible. Otherwise, you can peek inside as part of a visit to the in-house Museo Teatrale alla Scala, provided there are no performances or rehearsals in progress. On the museum’s ground floor is a chronologically arranged collection of opera-related items, including original advertising posters and the death mask and hand cast of Giuseppe Verdi, who premiered ­numerous operas here.