AQUARIUM - DOHRN FOUNDATION

The German zoologist Anton Dohrn had a dream: “to build a place with ‘tanks where fresh sea water circulates continuously that allow the most delicate and so far indomitable animals to expose themselves to the eye of the science”

His dream is now a reality since 1874, when the Aquarium of Napoli was open and now after a long renovation programme has reopened for the public to visit.

This Aquarium has three objectives which are in the observation of the sea and its organisms, to entertain and educate visitors and to invest in marine research.

Also based at the site is the National Biology, Ecology and Marine Biotechnology Institute which is considered one of the worlds most important and influential Institutions for research and observation of the sea.

The Aquarium was built by the English engineer William Alford Iloyd, who worked at the Aquariums of London and Hamburg.

For the Neapolitan Aquarium, he created one big hall of 507 square meters with 19 big pools containing 180 cubic meters of water in which live almost 200 different species of sea-life which include interesting species of Mediterranean fish, from the Gulf of Napoli and also interesting corals.  The pools were, and are still now, connected directly to the sea with an underground tunnel.

The Aquarium is probably by todays standards a touch on the small side, but you can spend an interesting hour or so there.  This is one of the places I discovered in Napoli as an adult as it has only recently been opened to the public.

Official website: Aquarium

c/o Museo Darwin Dohrn della Stazione Zoologica di Napoli - Villa Comunale – 80121 Napoli

Tel.: +39 0815833442

Email.: biglietteria@fondazionedohrn.it

Opening hours: Tue.-Sun.: 09.00 - 14.00 / 15.00 - 18.00

Nearest metro station: Metro Linea 2 - Fermata Amedeo or Funicolar - Parco Margherita