The Civic Aquarium of Milan opened in 1906 as part of the Milan International Exposition, and it is the only pavilion from that world’s fair still standing in Parco Sempione. Built in the ornate Liberty style, Italy’s take on Art Nouveau, the building’s facade features a Neptune statue sculpted by Oreste Labò, marking it as a surviving piece of early 20th-century Milan.
Widely cited as the third-oldest aquarium in Europe, the venue underwent a major renovation between 2003 and 2006 to mark its centennial before reopening to the public. Today it is managed by the City of Milan and focuses on freshwater and marine life native to Italy’s seas, lakes, and rivers, holding more than 100 species across its tanks.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Parco Sempione, Milan, Italy
- Opened: 1906
- Renovated: 2003–2006
- Species: 100+ aquatic species
- Architectural style: Liberty (Art Nouveau)
- Managed by: City of Milan
- Famous for: Only surviving building from the 1906 Milan International Exposition
A Survivor of the 1906 World’s Fair
When Milan hosted the International Exposition of 1906 to celebrate the opening of the Simplon Tunnel, dozens of pavilions were built across Parco Sempione and dismantled soon after the event closed. The aquarium building was the exception, left standing because of both its popularity and its purpose-built pools, which made it impractical to tear down like the temporary exhibition halls around it.
The structure’s Liberty-style facade, topped with Oreste Labò’s Neptune sculpture, has made the building a recognizable landmark in the park independent of what swims inside it, and it remains a protected piece of Milanese architectural history.
What’s Inside Today
Following its 2003–2006 renovation, the aquarium reopened with updated exhibits that lean into a distinctly Italian identity, showcasing fish and other aquatic organisms from the country’s coastlines, alpine lakes, and rivers rather than the generalized tropical displays common at larger modern aquariums.
With more than 100 species on view, the collection functions as both a public attraction and an educational resource, reflecting its origins as a research-oriented civic institution rather than a purely commercial one.
Explore more: more historic zoos and aquariums worth visiting.
Little hands reach in, snacks stay in — a lifesaver on long zoo days.
Easier on your back than carrying in arms all day at the zoo.
Cheap insurance for splash zones, water rides and surprise showers.
Civic Aquarium of Milan FAQs
When did the Civic Aquarium of Milan open?
It opened in 1906 for the Milan International Exposition and is the only building from that fair still standing in Parco Sempione.
Where is the Civic Aquarium of Milan located?
It sits on the edge of Parco Sempione on Viale Gadio in central Milan, Italy.
How many species does the aquarium have?
It houses more than 100 species of freshwater and marine aquatic life, with an emphasis on species native to Italy.
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Photo: Mauro Mariani at Italian Wikipedia / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.