Acquario di Napoli

Italy Campania NaplesAcquario di Napoli

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Nearby Attractions Of Acquario di Napoli

Napoli Sotterranea Guided Authorized Tour

Napoli Sotterranea Guided Authorized Tour

4.7

(3.5K)

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Villa Comunale

Villa Comunale

3.9

(2.7K)

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Galleria Borbonica

Galleria Borbonica

4.8

(1.9K)

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Palazzo delle Arti Napoli

Palazzo delle Arti Napoli

4.3

(1.4K)

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Nearby Restaurants Of Acquario di Napoli

Gino Sorbillo Lievito Madre al Mare

Gino Sorbillo Lievito Madre al Mare

3.8

(5.4K)

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Antonio & Antonio

Antonio & Antonio

4.2

(4.5K)

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Pizzeria Vincenzo Capuano

Pizzeria Vincenzo Capuano

4.3

(2.2K)

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Pizzeria Errico Porzio Lungomare

Pizzeria Errico Porzio Lungomare

4.5

(1.7K)

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The Hit List

Restaurants

Best 10 Restaurants to Visit in Naples

February 26·5 min read

Attractions

Best 10 Attractions to Visit in Naples

February 26·5 min read

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Address

Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli NA, Italy

Map

Phone

+39 081 583 3442

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Website

fondazionedohrn.it

Visit

Overview

cultural

entertainment

family friendly

accessibility

Description

The Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn is a research institute in Naples, Italy, devoted to basic research in biology.

The Hit List

Restaurants

Best 10 Restaurants to Visit in Naples

February 26·5 min read

Attractions

Best 10 Attractions to Visit in Naples

February 26·5 min read

The Naples Aquarium, established in 1874, is the second oldest in Europe and among the oldest in the world. It forms a part of the renowned Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, a historic institution with a rich legacy in scientific research. The station's founder, Anton Dohrn, financed the construction of its neoclassical building, equipped the laboratories, and curated a unique specialist library using his own funds, alongside private donations and public subsidies. Dohrn's ambitious project garnered support from prominent figures such as Charles Darwin, Karl Ernst von Baer, Thomas Henry Huxley, Emil du Bois-Reymond, Hermann von Helmholtz, and Rudolf Virchow. The station became a hub for many of the great zoologists of the era, including Fridtjof Nansen, Robert Koch, Theodor Boveri, Jacob van Rees, Nettie Stevens, and Otto Warburg. The institution houses not only the aquarium but also a herbarium, a historical archive, a library, and an extensive zoological collection. The library is particularly notable for its collection of texts, many of which were donated by Dohrn and other eminent scientists, including Darwin. The walls of the library are adorned with frescoes by German painter Hans von Marées, depicting scenes from the lives of Neapolitan fishermen. Remarkably, the aquarium’s tanks are still connected directly to the sea via an underground canal, a system designed over 150 years ago. Visitors can explore the original tanks, as well as new installations showcasing a tropical coral reef and offering a glimpse into potential future changes in the Mediterranean. While the aquarium's historical significance is immense, the actual facility is relatively small, and most visitors can see everything within an hour..

Levi Punzo (Levi043)

00

Small aquarium, but a good option for kids who like aquariums. Interesting fish, not a ton of information on them, but they were active, and it wasn't expensive ($20 for our family of four). I would recommend giving yourself time to figure out parking. We were there at 0930 and there were options, but getting into the garage that was closest to the entrance we were told to come to wasn't simple. We ended up in street parking across from a farmacia down the road a bit. Fine, except for a downpour of rain, began, and it's hard to move fast with children. There is parking on the seaward side you can do with an app (Neos Park). The entrance we were told to use was across from a place with an awning that says Nuts, blue flags on the top of the park entrance. The surrounding park looks nice but was not open to us, and has a lot of construction going on. No food or drinks available in the aquarium, and I did not see a changing table inside the restrooms.

Angelique Colon

10

La Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, nell’attuale Villa Comunale di Napoli, ospita l’Acquario più antico d’Europa ancora in attività. Sin dalla sua inaugurazione l’Acquario di Napoli è stata un enorme vanto per la città, al pari dell’ Real Orto Botanico e dell’Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte.L’acquario della Stazione zoologica Anton Dohrn di Napoli (SZN) apre al pubblico nel lontano 1875 per volere del naturalista e zoologo tedesco Anton Dohrn. Per la progettazione venne dato incarico all’inglese all’inglese William Alford Lloyd, che aveva già elaborato gli acquari di Londra ed Amburgo. Per garantirne l’indipendenza politica, economica e soprattutto libertà di ricerca, Dohrn introdusse un innovativo metodo di finanziamento – il “sistema Bench”. Grazie a una tariffa universitaria annuale, governi, istituzioni scientifiche, fondazioni private o singoli individui potevano mandare per un anno uno scienziato alla Stazione. Ancora oggi l’Acquario di Napoli e la Stazione zoologica sono tra i migliori centri di ricerca al mondo sulla biologia marina. Rispetto ai grandi acquari europei ed americani, grandiosi e spettacolari, quello di Napoli è sobrio, quasi austero; le numerose vasche, allestiste con pietre vulcaniche naturali, sono illuminate in gran parte da luce naturale che proviene dall’alto; gli esemplari esposti provengono prevalentemente dal Golfo di Napoli. Il primo piano ospita la biblioteca storica e la sala di lettura, sulle cui pareti è rappresentata la vita dei pescatori napoletani; gli affreschi sono del pittore tedesco Hans von Marées e dello scutore Adolf von Hildebrand. Nel 2021, a pochi passi dalla sede storica di Villa Comunale, è stato aperto il Museo Darwin–Dohrn (DaDoM), un luogo interamente dedicato al mare e alla biodiversità del mare. Il progetto, fortemente voluto dalla Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli nasce da un accurato restyling della Casina del Boschetto, nota a molti come ex Circolo della Stampa.

Andrea Chiariello

120

You go there to learn about the fishes of the Neapolitan gulf and the “ tropicalizzazione”. Our guide Manuel has been outstanding! His extremely interesting and detailed explanations left us with the souvenir of the most interesting visit ever. My teens and all the other kids visiting the acquario were completely captivated by his explanations, joviality and kindness. Don’t expect the touristic commercial extravagant aquarium… but a highly professional research center, in the second most ancient aquarium of Europe ! My favorite: the octopus 🐙 and the information about his great intelligence and psychological activity.

Maya Tozzi

00

The Naples Aquarium is a peculiar place, where the boundaries between observer and observed blur and the currents of empathy run deep. It may lack the grandiosity of larger marine marvels, but its intimate setting allows for a more personal communion with the creatures within. Whether you seek enlightenment or simply an escape from the chaotic streets of Naples, this diminutive aquatic oasis will leave an indelible mark on your psyche. Be prepared to confront the existential yearnings from the soulful eyes of an octopus reaching out to you in a silent plea for salvation.

daniel thornbury

00

The Naples Aquarium is not very big but really super pretty. Each species is presented in a "scene". You can see many species from the Mediterranean Sea there but also aquariums dedicated to species from the Red Sea with many corals and multicolored fish. A fun outing to do with children but also for adults. You should know that the Naples Aquarium is 150 years old and is the oldest in the world. To see at least once if you visit Naples.

Bourgeois Olivier

10