Civico Acquario Marino di Trieste (Civic Marine Aquarium of Trieste), Trieste

The Civico Acquario Marino di Trieste (Civic Marine Aquarium of Trieste) was born in Trieste in 1933 in one side of the building of the former Central fish market (now transformed into an exhibition hall, called the Salone degli Incanti).

The aquarium has 25 tanks, which recreate different marine environments, in which it hosts mainly Adriatic species ( coelenterates , annelids , molluscs , echinoderms and crustaceans ). On the ground floor there is also a large octagonal tank which houses sharks and rays and one which housed some penguins ( Spheniscus demersus ) from South Africa . A specimen of penguin, known by the name of Marco, lived in the aquarium for 31 years.

The first floor is occupied by the vivarium where numerous species of amphibians , reptiles and freshwater fish are housed. There is also a large terrarium where a karst pond has been reconstructed in which common toads , green frogs and toads reproduce.

The building was erected in 1913 to a design by the architect Giorgio Polli.
The "bell tower" that stands on the left side of the aquarium was actually a "water tower", as it contained the raised tank of sea water which was then sent to the fish stalls. The fish market consisted of a large central hall, with sales counters, while on the opposite side of the aquarium, where the main entrance to the exhibition hall is now located, there was the room for the fish auctions.