Civic Aquarium of Milan
Europe’s third-oldest aquarium, built for the 1906 Milan International and the sole surviving structure from that world’s fair.
At a glance
The Civic Aquarium occupies a landmark building on the edge of Sempione Park. Over 100 different species inhabit its tanks, with emphasis on fish and aquatic plants native to Italian seas, lakes, and rivers. A Neptune statue by sculptor Oreste Labò adorns the facade.
History
Constructed in 1906 to commemorate the Milan International Exposition, the aquarium is the event’s only remaining building. Its library once held one of Italy’s most significant collections of marine biology publications before merging with the Library of the Civic Museum of Natural History of Milan in 2015.
What you see
The building’s most striking feature is its sculptural facade, dominated by Oreste Labò’s Neptune—a fitting guardian for a temple to aquatic life. Inside, the carefully curated tank system showcases Mediterranean and freshwater ecosystems specific to the Italian peninsula.
Cultural significance
As Europe’s third-oldest aquarium still in operation, the Civic Aquarium represents early-twentieth-century enthusiasm for public education and scientific advancement. Its survival as the sole structure from the 1906 fair makes it an invaluable document of Milan’s cultural ambitions during the Belle Époque.
Key facts
- Country: Italy
- City: Milan
- Year built: 1906
- Coordinates: 45.474°N, 9.1808°E
Practical information & getting there
The aquarium is located on the grounds of Sempione Park in central Milan. For current opening hours, admission prices, and directions by public transport, consult the museum’s official website.
Sources & resources
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