//
Photo: G.dallorto, Attribution via Wikimedia Commons
The location of the Statue of Leonardo da Vinci and La Scala theatre. It is a small, but grand square flanked by fine palaces, such as the city hall and the commercial bank. Great place for a photograph and right next to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Ticket office is underground in the Duomo Metropolitana stop.
Piazza della Scala is a pedestrian central square of Milan, Italy. It is connected to the main square of Milan, Piazza del Duomo, by the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II passage. It is named after the renowned Teatro alla Scala opera house, which occupies the north-western side of the square; the building actually includes both the opera house and the Museo Teatrale alla Scala, dedicated to the history of La Scala and opera in general. On the opposite side to "La Scala", to the south-east, is the facade of Palazzo Marino, Milan's city hall. Another relevant building on the square, on the north-eastern side, is the Palazzo della Banca Commerciale Italiana. The south-western side of the square has the entry to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and Palazzo Beltrami. Most of the architecture of the square is the work of architect Luca Beltrami, who designed the eponymous palace, the facade of Palazzo Marino and the Banca Commerciale Italiana building. The centre of the square is marked by the monument of Leonardo da Vinci by sculptor Pietro Magni (1872).
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Museo Teatrale alla Scala
A museum dedicated to one of the world's most famous opera houses. All types of memorabilias like dresses and pictures are on display. This includes a view into the opera hall from one of the loges, which is a short and simple alternative to the official guided tour of the opera. (Note that third party tour operators of the opera are not showing anything other than this view from the museum.) Check the museum website for the practice schedule, which determines visibility of the opera hall.
One of the most renowned opera houses in the world. It first opened in 1778 and re-opened in 2004 after extensive renovation. It has seen performances by stars such as Maria Callas and Pavarotti. Since Italy is the birthplace of opera, The Teatro alla Scala would be one of the best places for one to have an introduction to the world of Italian opera. La Scala is also a venue for other classical music.
A small, yet very impressive square, which hosts the magnificent neoclassical Belgiojoso Palace, built by Milanese noblemen in the late 1700s, and the House of Manzoni, where notable Italian writer and literary figure Alessandro Manzoni lived, and which today hosts a library and the Centro Nazionale di Studi Manzoniani (National Centre of Manzoni-related studies).
Museo Poldi Pezzoli
A varied collection of art from the 14th to 19th century, including armour, clocks, porcelain and tapestries. It has been a museum since 1881. The house was bombed in 1943, resulting in a somewhat incoherent restoration, but the collection had been moved to safety.
A truly enchanting and tiny medieval square, hidden by the grand palaces in the central part of Milan. Here, in "Merchants' Square" you get lovely Gothic and Renaissance-porticoed houses, and a well right in the middle. At the one side of the square there is the Palazzo della Ragione (1233), the old town hall, aka Broletto Nuovo. At the other – Loggia degli Osii (1321) decorated with black and white marble, used to host judicial and notary offices. At Christmas time, the square fills up with markets selling local produce, including mouth-watering panettone, sweets, bonbons and souvenirs.
The grandest square in the city, the Piazza del Duomo is the cultural and social heart of Milan, and contains several of its most famous sights. There's the majestic cathedral and classy Galleria, plus the 18th C Palazzo Reale and several big, venerable buildings. The square is centred around the statue of King Victor Emmanuel II at Solferino – his horse is skidding to a halt as if it's just noticed the Austrian bayonets. The square is grandiloquent yet softened by its cafés, restaurants and shops, pigeons, and passers-by. Exchange kiosks here offer decent rates, better than those in the VE arcade.