Behind the scenes secrets of Milan's Teatro alla Scala
From the Fitness Suite to the Royal Box
Discover the behind-the-scenes world of Milan's La Scala Theatre, one of the most important opera houses in the world, from the first in-house fitness suite dedicated to its Ballet Company to the Royal Box and the Foyer Restaurant.
Since its inauguration in 1778, La Scala Theatre has consistently led the way in numerous fields, including being the first in the world to be completely lit by electricity. This is true once again with the opening of the first gym dedicated to the Ballet Company at the end of 2025, a first among historic European opera houses.
The fitness suite, designed by McFIT, a leading European gym chain, represents the perfect synthesis of art and fitness. Under the guidance of Ballet Company Director Frédéric Olivieri, the dream of an internal fitness space has become a reality, allowing artists to hone the physical fitness that supports the magic of the stage.
An unprecedented combination of the art of dance and the power of fitness training that, once again, transforms the temple of ballet into an outpost of avant-garde performances.
Wellness Meets Art: An Enlightened Vision
The collaboration with McFIT is an investment in the Teatro community that looks to the future. In addition to the dancers, La Scala’s thousand employees will also benefit from discounts at the group’s centers.
McFIT is a brand of RSG Group GmbH, a German multinational and world leader in the fitness industry with approximately 900 active centers, present in Italy under the McFIT, John Reed, and Gold’s Gym brands.
We take the opportunity of visiting the new fitness suite to discover the theater’s “behind the scenes” and how to visit it.
La Scala in Milan: Over Two Centuries of Legend
Inaugurated on August 3, 1778, with Antonio Salieri’s opera L’Europa riconosciuta, the theater arose from the ashes of the Teatro Regio Ducale, destroyed by a fire under mysterious circumstances. It took its name from the church of Santa Maria alla Scala, which was demolished to make way for the new structure.
The new Teatro alla Scala, designed by neoclassical architect Giuseppe Piermarini, a student of Vanvitelli of the Royal Palace of Caserta, who also designed the Palazzo Reale in Milan and the Villa Reale in Monza, has made history (and continues to do so), absorbing the music of Verdi, Puccini, and Rossini, and the footsteps of legends such as Carla Fracci and Rudolf Nureyev.
Behind-the-scenes secrets at La Scala
The magic of the theater extends far beyond the performances, offering immense emotions even when visiting the private and exhibition spaces, including:
– The Theater Museum: located inside the theater, and the first of its kind in the world, it houses an extraordinary collection of memorabilia, historical costumes, musical instruments, and portraits of historic artists, such as Giuseppe Verdi’s first spinet and Franz Liszt’s Steinway.
– View from the Boxes: by purchasing a museum ticket, you can look out from the historic boxes to admire the auditorium, the immense Bohemian crystal chandelier, and the legendary “La Scala red” curtain (always check the opening hours, as access is limited during rehearsals). The two most legendary boxes are the Royal Box and the “Savoy Box”, used by the Italian royal family for more informal occasions, which had a secret entrance and space for a small lounge with a fireplace.
– The Foyer Restaurant: located on the adjacent Via Filodrammatici, it’s not just a restaurant, but a “red velvet” extension of La Scala’s prestige in the world of fine dining, born in the spaces that once housed Maestro Gualtiero Marchesi’s legendary “Marchesino.”
– The Scala Workshops (Ansaldo): for true “secrets” addicts, we also recommend a visit to the former Ansaldo Workshops on Via Bergognone. Here, in an immense post-industrial space, set designers, sculptors, and tailors bring to life the designs and sartorial works that will later be seen on stage.
And for those who love beauty and art, leaning out of the Royal Box and enjoying the magical symmetry of the empty boxes or having the fortune of seeing a principal dancer or ballerina walk through the theater’s corridors is truly a thrill.
The Secret
Gerd Schaller, owner of RSG Group GmbH and brother of its founder Rainer Schaller, is not only an entrepreneur but also an accomplished German conductor, now considered one of the leading experts and interpreters of the music of Anton Bruckner. A curious coincidence for a strategic partnership that actually arose in Italy from a meeting between the marketing departments of McFIT Italia and the Teatro alla Scala.
Useful Info
Museum visit ticket: from €12, admission allows a view of the Theater from the third-tier boxes, only when there are no rehearsals, performances, or events open to the public.
Theater visit ticket: from €35, including access to the Royal Box and the historic second-tier boxes.
For private or exclusive visits, contact the Theater website.
