Aquarium of Genoa
Encyclopedia
The Aquarium of Genoa is the largest aquarium
in Italy
and the second largest in Europe
. Located in the old harbor area of Genoa
, Italy
, the 33000 square feet (3,065.8 m²) aquarium is a member organization of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
(EAZA), and welcomes more than 1.2 million visitors each year.
(International Exhibition Genoa '92 Colombo '92), celebrating 500 years since the Genoan sailor Christopher Columbus
discovered the new world. The building, which some say looks like a ship ready to head out to sea, was designed by the Geloa architect Renzo Piano
of the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The interior design and initial exhibits for the opening in 1992 were designed by Peter Chermayeff
leading a design team at Cambridge Seven Associates
. In 1998 the aquarium was expanded with the addition of a 100 metres (328.1 ft) ship connected by walkway to the original building.
, the North Atlantic
, and Caribbean
reefs "from two perspectives, one the New World/Old World encounter of 1492, the other the ecological awareness of 1992 and the present."
The aquarium includes 70 tanks containing a total of 6000000 litres (12,680,271.2 US pt), and almost 10000 metres (32,808.4 ft) of exhibit space.
Public aquarium
A public aquarium is the aquatic counterpart of a zoo, housing living aquatic species for viewing. Most public aquariums feature tanks larger than those kept by home aquarists, as well as smaller tanks. Since the first public aquariums were built in the mid-19th century, they have become popular...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the second largest in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Located in the old harbor area of Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the 33000 square feet (3,065.8 m²) aquarium is a member organization of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
-External links:*...
(EAZA), and welcomes more than 1.2 million visitors each year.
History
The aquarium was originally built for Genoa Expo '92Genoa Expo '92
The International Exhibition Genoa '92 Colombo '92 took place from Friday, May 15 to Saturday, August 15, 1992 in Genoa, Italy. The theme was "Christopher Columbus, The Ship and the Sea", and the Expo has been released for the 500 years of the Discover of America by the Genoese sailor Columbus....
(International Exhibition Genoa '92 Colombo '92), celebrating 500 years since the Genoan sailor Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
discovered the new world. The building, which some say looks like a ship ready to head out to sea, was designed by the Geloa architect Renzo Piano
Renzo Piano
Renzo Piano is an Italian architect. He is the recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, AIA Gold Medal, Kyoto Prize and the Sonning Prize...
of the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The interior design and initial exhibits for the opening in 1992 were designed by Peter Chermayeff
Peter Chermayeff
Peter Chermayeff LLC Peter Chermayeff LLC is a Massachusetts based architectural firm which specializes in aquarium architecture and exhibit design, from conceptual planning to the details of final realization. The two principals, Peter Chermayeff , FAIA, and Bobby C. Poole, AIA have collaborated...
leading a design team at Cambridge Seven Associates
Cambridge Seven Associates
Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc. is an American architecture firm founded in 1962 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The firm was founded upon the idea that the collaborative efforts of a varied group of designers and architects would be far more effective than those of any one individual...
. In 1998 the aquarium was expanded with the addition of a 100 metres (328.1 ft) ship connected by walkway to the original building.
Exhibits
The original exhibition concept was to show the Ligurian SeaLigurian Sea
The Ligurian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Italian Riviera and the island of Corsica. The sea is probably named after the ancient Ligures people.-Geography:...
, the North Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, and Caribbean
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
reefs "from two perspectives, one the New World/Old World encounter of 1492, the other the ecological awareness of 1992 and the present."
The aquarium includes 70 tanks containing a total of 6000000 litres (12,680,271.2 US pt), and almost 10000 metres (32,808.4 ft) of exhibit space.