Aquarium of Genoa, Italy

Description

Aquarium of Genoa
Acquario di Genova is the Aquarium that hosts the most extensive range of aquatic biodiversity in Europe. The exhibition gallery consists of over 70 exhibits and about 12,000 specimen of 600 species, from all the seas of the world. From the rarest species such as manatees – marine mammals that may be at the origin of the legend of mermaids – to the most famous ones such as dolphins, penguins and sharks – the great predators of the sea; but also jellyfish, seals and multi-coloured tropical fish species.Come with us in a journey that will fill you with a range of emotions and inspire you to respect deeply the sea and its extraordinary inhabitants.





Galata Museum

This is the largest and most innovative maritime museum of the Mediterranean Sea and it includes a full-scale Genoese galley (33 meters long) of the 17th century and a brigantine-schooner of the 19th century.The Museum also displays 6000 original objects in its 23 rooms, enabling you to completely immerse yourself in the history of sea navigation.The exhibition goes on with the voyages of Italian emigrants on board of steamships heading towards North America, Brazil and Argentina. There is also a part dedicated to contemporary migration movements.
Acquario di Genova

Acquario di Genova, which has been expanded by adding the internal section “Tropical Garden – Un Battito d’Ali” (Wings flapping), has the most extensive range of aquatic biodiversity in Europe in terms of number of tanks and hosted species.
The Blue Planet

The Blue Planet is the new room that opens the visit. A wonderful video mapping welcomes the visitors with a stunning sequence of images, showing marine animals coming from all the oceans.The core of this interesting experience is the importance that water has for life.The video is projected on a big map of the oceans of the world, which shows the distribution of the waters on Earth. It stresses the fact that the sea, from ancient times up to the present day, has been an important means of communication, allowing to get in touch with new civilizations.





The morays cave

Here starts your exploration of the Blue Planet. The dim light reveals the imposing Morays cave, a cylindrical tank of over 6 metres in height. The tank is encircled by an installation that looks like the section of a shell. Here, together with eels – usually half-hidden among the rocks – it is possible to see some specimens of scorpionfish, which usually lay still on the sea bottom, where they camouflage perfectly.In the same room, you may also catch a glimpse of two species of seahorse and of the most intelligent invertebrate: the octopus.
The mermaids lagoon

The mermaids lagoon hosts the manatees, aquatic herbivorous mammals.It seems that these tame animals were at the origin of the myth of mermaids, mythological creatures that are half woman and half fish. The origin of this legend could stem from their way of nursing, which is very similar to the human one.Acquario di Genova is the only Aquarium in Italy, and one of the only ten in Europe, to host this highly endangered species.
The sharks bay

Predators of the sea,A portal with an holographic effect welcomes visitors in the sharks bay, giving a sneak preview of what you will feel while watching the big tank that hosts the predators of the sea – not only various species of sharks from different environments, but also other interesting fish. Near the bottom, for example, you can find two specimens of sawfish, typical of the Indian and Western Pacific Ocean; they can be identified easily because of their long rostrum with tooth-like denticles.





Deep Sea Room

In the Deep Sea Room, you can experience virtual reality and learn about animal species that live in the depths of the sea. The permanent installation is one of the first in Italy; its eight seats are equipped with Samsung Gear VR headset and display. You will experience three minutes of actual immersion: as you dive into the sea, the light becomes increasingly faint and before your very eyes you will see a parade of the peculiar organisms that inhabit the deep sea.
Tender Café

The new Tender Café, which you can find along the exhibition gallery of Acquario di Genova, is a modern coffee bar that offers a wide range of international snacks, both sweet and savoury. Tender Café provides you a choice of traditional and at the same time innovative dishes, together with a new way of serving and packaging products, to offer an enjoyable and relaxing break for every taste.

Aquarium Hours
from 9:00am to 20:00pm last entrance at 18:00

Visit the full website for complete details,www.acquariodigenova.it/en/