In 1776 the Teatro Regio Ducale inside the Royal Palace was destroyed by fire in mysterious circumstances and the empress, Maria Theresa of Austria, appointed the architect, Giuseppe Piermarini, to build a new theatre. The site chosen was the area of the Church of Santa Maria della Scala, so named in honour of Beatrice Regina della Scala, the wife of Bernabò Visconti. In two years it was inagurated on 3rd August 1778 the Teatro Grande alla Scala, destined to become one of the most important focal points for both Italian and European culture. After the Second World War Teatro alla Scala was rapidly rebuilt and on 11th May 1946 it reopened in all its original splendour with a memorable concert conducted by the orchestra director Arturo Toscanini. Between January 2002 and December 2004, the swiss architect Mario Botta carried out the most profound work of restoration and modernization. The fly tower and the oval tower, which can be seen from the outside of the building, stand as a sign to this renovation. The 2-hours long itinerary starts with a short walking tour in Scala square and in the around district to introduce the history, then you continue visiting the Scala museum and you discover the anecdotes and curiosities. In the end you could see the theatre entering into central boxes, if there are no shows or reharsals.