The Teatro alla Scala (or La Scala, as it is known) in Milan, is one of the world's most famous opera houses. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778, under the name Nuovo Regio Ducal Teatro alla Scala with Salieri's "L'Europa riconosciuta".

The current building is the second theatre on the site. A fire destroyed the first, the ancient Teatro Ducale, on 25 February 1776, after a carnival gala. A group of ninety wealthy Milanese, who owned palchi (private boxes) in the theater, wrote to Archduke Ferdinand I of Austria asking for a new theatre and a provisional one to be used while completing the new one.

The neoclassical architect Giuseppe Piermarini produced an initial design but it was rejected by Count Firmian (an Austrian governor). A second plan was accepted in 1776 by Empress Maria Theresa. The theatre had over 3,000 seats and the auditorium, built in the horseshoe style, consists of six tiers of boxes above which is the 'loggione' or gallery. The stage was originally 20m deep.

The new theatre was built on the former location of the church of Santa Maria della Scala, from which the theatre gets its name. The church was deconsecrated and demolished, and over a period of two years the theater was completed by Pietro Marliani, Pietro Nosetti and Antonio and Giuseppe Fe.

Building expenses were covered by the sale of the boxes, which were lavishly decorated by their owners, impressing observers such as Stendhal. La Scala (as it soon became to be known) soon became the preeminent meeting place for noble and wealthy Milanese people. In the tradition of the times, the platea (the main floor) had no chairs and spectators watched the shows standing up. The orchestra was in full sight, as the golfo mistico (orchestra pit) had not yet been built.

Above the boxes, La Scala has always had a gallery where the less wealthy can watch the performances. It is called the loggione. The loggione is typically crowded with the most critical opera aficionados, who can be ecstatic or merciless towards singers' perceived successes or failures. La Scala's loggione is considered a baptism of fire in the opera world, and fiascos are long remembered. (The famous tenor Carlo Bergonzi, back on stage after many years, wasn't forgiven for a bad start to his Aida and suffered merciless whistles, which in Italy signify contempt).

As with most of the theaters at that time, La Scala was also a casino, with gamblers sitting in the foyer.