Acquario Civico

In the heart of Milan, protected by the foliage of Sempione Park, rises the’Civic Aquarium and Hydrobiological Station, a jewel of the Milanese Art Nouveau and masterpiece of the architect Sebastiano Locati. Born for the’1906 International Exhibition, is the only pavilion in the Simplon district that has not been dismantled, becoming today the Europe's third oldest aquarium. The façade, adorned with marine friezes and the statue of Neptune, introduces you to a unique scientific and cultural experience.

Renewed in 2006, the exhibition route follows the natural water cycle via 22 tubs. The journey starts from the alpine springs, follows the course of the rivers to the lakes of Lombardy and lands in the depths of the Mediterranean. Unlike modern purely commercial facilities, the Milan Aquarium emphasises the indigenous biodiversitytrout, tench and the majestic sturgeons, true living fossils. The most striking point is the bridge tank, which allows you to walk under the sinuous swimming of catsharks and stingrays.

The only exotic section, dedicated to Red Sea Reef, serves as an ecological warning about the dangers of climate change and the lexepsian migrations. Beyond the tanks, the institute is an active research centre, equipped with one of the hydrobiological libraries most prestigious in Italy.

The experience ends in the outdoor garden, where artificial basins reconstruct the ecosystems of the Po Valley. Here, water lilies and marsh plants offer a urban refuge to biodiversity, transforming the Aquarium into a bridge between the city's architectural history and environmental conservation. It is a place where early 20th century art and modern science come together to educate about the fragility of our planet.