The Civic Aquarium of Milan (Acquario Civico di Milano) is Milan's charming – and rather unique – aquarium. The third oldest aquarium in Europe, it was built in 1905 for the Milan World Fair and is the only building to survive from the event to this day.
Located at the edge of Sempione Park, Milan's largest public park, it is housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau period building that features elaborate sculptural details, friezes and hand-painted tiles.
The facade of the aquarium is further enhanced by a statue of Neptune, the Roman god of water and the sea, created by sculptor Oreste Labò. Small but beautiful and certainly one of the most unusual and special museums that we have ever seen, it is a must-visit for those who have found a vacation rental in Milan and are planning a trip to the city.
Located at the edge of Sempione Park, Milan's largest public park, it is housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau period building that features elaborate sculptural details, friezes and hand-painted tiles.
The facade of the aquarium is further enhanced by a statue of Neptune, the Roman god of water and the sea, created by sculptor Oreste Labò. Small but beautiful and certainly one of the most unusual and special museums that we have ever seen, it is a must-visit for those who have found a vacation rental in Milan and are planning a trip to the city.
While the building is lovely, it is what is housed inside that is important the aquarium is home to over 100 different types of underwater species, located in several tanks, with a particular emphasis and focus on the fishes and aquatic vegetation of the Italian seacoasts, lakes, and rivers. There are various environments recreated in the 36 pools of the aquarium, ranging from Lombardy to the Amazon.
Well-maintained and with clearly labelled display tanks, this little aquarium may not have the range of species, scale or thrills of others around the world but has its own appeal and is sure to delight and entertain both adults and children alike.
The aquarium library, which is open to the public, also happens to house one of Italy’s most prestigious collection of marine biology publications so, for those who are very interested in marine biology or those who study the topic, it is a wonderful attraction.
Well-maintained and with clearly labelled display tanks, this little aquarium may not have the range of species, scale or thrills of others around the world but has its own appeal and is sure to delight and entertain both adults and children alike.
The aquarium library, which is open to the public, also happens to house one of Italy’s most prestigious collection of marine biology publications so, for those who are very interested in marine biology or those who study the topic, it is a wonderful attraction.
Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 17:30, entry costs 5 euros, with free entry on Tuesday from 14:00. Devoid of intense tourist crowds and chaos, a little off the beaten track and very special, this is very much one of Milan's hidden gems.