Acquario civico di Milano
One of the oldest aquariums in Europe, housed in an Art Nouveau pavilion of 1906 in the Parco Sempione, with species from Italian rivers, lakes and seas.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Acquario Civico di Milano is housed in the only surviving pavilion of the 1906 International Exhibition, held to celebrate the opening of the Simplon tunnel. The building, in the Viennese Liberty (Art Nouveau) style, was designed by the architect Sebastiano Locati and at the end of the exhibition was donated to the Municipality. The aquarium was the second in Italy after the one in Naples, opened in 1872, and one of the first in Europe.
It stands on the edge of the Parco Sempione, between the Arena Civica and the Castello Sforzesco. Between 2003 and 2006 a long restoration returned the exterior to its original appearance and fully renewed the interiors with new tanks, maintaining its purpose of showing Italian freshwater and marine environments.
The exhibition follows the water from the Alpine springs down to the depths of the sea, 30 metres down, with 10 freshwater tanks and 12 saltwater tanks. It houses over 50 species, from the trout of mountain streams to sturgeons, through to leopard sharks and stingrays in the bridge tank; a single tropical tank recreates the Red Sea coral reef. At the back, a garden open to the public reproduces typical ecosystems of the Po Valley.
Highlights
- Art Nouveau pavilion of the 1906 exhibition by Sebastiano Locati
- 10 freshwater tanks and 12 saltwater tanks
- Bridge tank with leopard sharks and stingrays
- Over 50 species from Italian rivers, lakes and seas
- Garden with Po Valley ecosystems
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso dalle sorgenti al mare – Circular route with 10 freshwater tanks and 12 saltwater tanks, and a garden with Po Valley ecosystems.
- Founded
- 1906
- Operated by
- Comune di Milano
- Visitors per year
- approx. 134,886
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4people aged 65 and over, university and AFAM students, employees of the Municipality of Milan and young people aged 18 to 25 (except on the second Tuesday of the month) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for children and young people aged 0 to 17 and for upper secondary school students. |
| Seniors | €4From age 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and a companion. |
| Students & apprentices | €4University and AFAM students. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –20% discount for groups of at least 10 people; groups of 10 to 30 people must book through AdMaiora (prenotazioni@admaiora.education). |
| Open full (open-date ticket, valid 12 months) | €9 |
| Open reduced (open-date ticket, valid 12 months) | €5 |
| Milano Museo Card (personal annual pass) | €15Free admission to all Musei Civici di Milano |
Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month (“Domenica al museo”): free admission for everyone; every second Tuesday of the month: free admission for young people up to and including 25.
Also free for teachers with a school certificate, officials of the Ministry of Culture, ICOM members, and licensed tour guides and tourist interpreters from the European Union on duty. Individual visitors and groups of up to 9 people can buy tickets online.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The entrance is reached by five steps or by two ramps (gradient 7–8%, width 118 cm, handrails on both sides). The permanent route is circular, about 200 metres long, barrier-free and with seating; the environment is dimly lit. The lift serves the three floors (not the terrace) and has Braille buttons. Accessible toilets on the raised ground floor and on the first floor. The museum provides a wheelchair in exchange for an identity document. About 100 metres away, on the opposite side of the service road, there is a space reserved for people with disabilities who hold a parking permit. Guide dogs are admitted.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The museum offers guided tours, family activities and workshops for children, by booking.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Lanza (M2) · 350 m
Metro M2 (green line) stop Lanza, 350 m; M1 (red line) stop Cairoli, 750 m; trams 2, 4, 12 and 14 stop Lanza; bus 57 stop Arena, 170 m; bus 43 stop Piazza Lega Lombarda, 500 m.
By car
- Accessible parking
The museum is on the edge of the Parco Sempione, between the Arena Civica and the Castello Sforzesco, within Area C.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Coat check
Unattended cloakroom in the foyer.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Up to 100 guests.
The site has a section “Eventi privati”; the conference room on the first floor has about 100 seats.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photos and filming are permitted for non-professional use only, and without lamps or flash. |
| Good to know | On booking, guided tours and activities for adults and families, group visits, and visits and workshops for people with disabilities are organised through AdMaiora (prenotazioni@admaiora.education; 0288465754 and 3245328700, Monday–Friday 9:00–14:00). Food and drink are not allowed in the rooms, smoking is prohibited inside and in the winter garden, and animals are not admitted (except guide dogs). |
