La Scala

Imagine you are sitting in a big, soft chair. It is red like a ripe strawberry. All around you, things are shiny and gold. Look up. A giant light hangs from the ceiling. It sparkles like a thousand tiny stars. Can you hear it? Beautiful music is floating in the air, like a happy dream. I am the one holding all this magic. I am La Scala, a very special house in Milan, Italy, where music and stories live. I love having friends visit me to hear wonderful sounds and see amazing shows. My big rooms are always ready for a new song.

Once upon a time, another theater stood right where I am. But one day, it was gone after a big fire on February 25th, 1776. A kind empress named Maria Theresa said, 'Let's build a new one. A beautiful one.'. So, many strong builders came to make me. They started putting my stones together, like big building blocks, on August 6th, 1776. It took them two whole years to finish. I was so excited. Finally, on August 3rd, 1778, I opened my big doors for the very first time. I was filled with happy cheers and wonderful songs for everyone to hear.

Inside my big rooms, wonderful things happen. Singers with big voices fill the air with powerful songs. Dancers in pretty clothes twirl and leap on my stage. I was very sad once. A long time ago, during a war in 1943, I was broken. But kind people worked very hard to put me back together. I opened my doors again with a big, happy concert on May 11th, 1946. Today, I am strong again. I love to share my music with everyone, making hearts feel full and happy. Maybe one day, you’ll come hear my songs, too.