Many of Milan's
tourists are in the
city for just one
reason -
La Scala
, Via dei
Filodrammatici 2 (box
office open daily
noon-6pm, plus 15min
after the start of
each performance for
ticket collection
only; tel
02.7200.3744, fax
02.887.9297,
www.lascala
.milano.com ), one
of the world's most
prestigious
opera
houses. The opera
season runs from
December through to
July, and there's
usually also a season
of classical concerts
between September and
November. Not
surprisingly, seats
for the opera sell out
months in advance, but
you can book tickets
via their Web site if
you get in early
enough. The average
price of a ticket is
about L75,000/38.74.
There is also often a
reasonable chance of
picking up a cheaper
seat in the gods on
the day, or one of
around 200 standing
places; get there an
hour or so before the
performance starts.
Of Milan's theaters
, the Teatro Piccolo,
Via Rovello 2 (tel
02.7233.3222, www.piccoloteatro.org
), is a classical theater, with a
traditional
repertoire, and is
reckoned to be one of
Italy's best. Teatro
dell'Elfo, Via Ciro
Menotti 11 (tel
02.716.791), reachable
on bus #60, puts on
more original plays.
Count on paying around
L30,000/15.49 for a
seat at either of
these places.
As for cinema
, Sound and Motion
Pictures ( www.anteospaziocinema.com
; L9000/4.65) show a
selection of original
language films at the
following cinemas: the
Arcobaleno, Viale
Tunisia 11 (tel
02.2940.6054; MM Porta
Venezia), the Anteo,
Via Milazzo 9 (tel
02.659.7732), and the
Mexico, Via Savona 57
(tel 02.4895.1802).
The Fondazione
Cineteca Italiana is
based at the Spazio
Oberdan
, and has an excellent
programme of
international arthouse
films. In the summer
months outdoor cinema
is organized at
several venues,
including the Parco di
Villa Ghirlanda,
Cinisello Balsamo Via
Frova 10 (tel
02.617.3005; www.comune.cinisello-balsamo.mi.it
); see newspaper for
listings.
