The aquarium of Genoa (Acquario di Genova) is the largest (area - 3100 m²) aquarium in Italy and the second largest in Europe.
A wonderful scientific and educational center was built in 1992 near the old Genoese harbor at Cape Ponte Spinola. The construction was timed to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America by the great traveler Christopher Columbus, born in Genoa, and in connection with the World Exhibition "Genoa Expo - 1992" ("Genoa Expo-92").
The impressions of visiting the aquarium become brighter thanks to the picture of the old port with yachts, modern liners and a ship from the time of the Great geographical discoveries.
Idea
The initial project was designed to show the northern areas of the Atlantic (Oceano atlantico), the Ligurian (Mar ligure) and the Caribbean (Mar dei caraibi) seas, that is, the path made by Christopher Columbus to the New World (Nuova Luce). The organizers of the aquarium tried to reproduce the appearance of the sea expanses of the time of Columbus.
The second idea is to show the current state of the ocean depths and thus draw the attention of the world community to environmental problems that threaten the Atlantic and world oceans.
Architecture
The aquarium building, designed by Renzo Piano, resembles a ship prepared for launching. The interior was designed by British architects and designers at Cambridge Seven Associates, designed by Peter Chermayeff. They were preparing the exhibition halls for the opening.
In 1998, the second hull-ship with a length of 100 meters was connected to the main building using a closed corridor in the form of a bridge.
The inhabitants
The exposition space has a complex device: it includes 70 small aquariums with inhabitants of the underwater depths. Each aquarium is a special ecosystem with its own characteristics. For the functioning of the entire complex, 6 million liters of water are needed.
The halls of the oceanarium consistently present visitors with the sea depths of all climatic zones of the globe.
Visitors to the aquarium have the opportunity to observe various breeds of invertebrates, fish, and amphibians. Traveling through the halls, you can see sharks and jellyfish, caimans and piranhas, dolphins and manatees, penguins, turtles, seals and other marine life.
All parts of the exposition are notable for their considerable volume and represent not only marine inhabitants, but also allow for detailed examination of the ocean floor, reefs and corals, various species of algae, as well as the surface of the world and exotic plants.
The travel of the guests of the aquarium through the sea depths is accompanied by music, the lighting of each sector is skillfully selected.
Environmental projects
Aquarium of Genoa is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums of Europe (L'associazione di zoo e acquari d'Europa), is the coordinator of the international project "Aqua Ring EU project". Here is the scientific base of the project: documentation, scientific developments and research results, a virtual database of photo and video documents, materials for educational online courses.
Show
In the aquarium of Genoa, you can see amazing show programs:
- Performance of dolphins, during which spectators are at the glass and watch the performance, the work of dolphins and trainers as if from the inside;
- Feeding underwater inhabitants;
- Contact pool, which provides the opportunity to stroke stingrays.
Children can visit the FishMaking room, where they model an unusual fish on their own and send it to swim in a virtual aquarium.
Opening hours and tickets
The aquarium invites guests daily, from 9.30 to 21.00, entrance until 19.00. Weekends: December 24, 25.Admission for adults is 18 euros. Ticket for children 4-12 years old - 12 euros. Children under 3 years old - free of charge.
The aquarium has additional expositions and programs:
- "Immersion in depth: virtual reality" ("Immersione in profondità: la realtà virtuale") - 3 €;
- "Rainforest" ("Foresta tropicale") - 2 €;
- "Biosphere" ("Biosfera") - 4 €;
- Maritime Museum "Galata" (Museo del mare "Galata") - 12 € (adults), 7 € (children).
In the aquarium, you can purchase combined tickets, which give the right to visit several exhibits.
All visitors are offered a free map of the layout of the exhibition halls.
Detailed information on the official website: www.acquariodigenova.
How to get there
The aquarium is located in the historical center of Genoa.The aquarium is a 5-minute walk from San Giorgio Metro Station. The second way is to walk 10 minutes from the Piazza Principe train station.
