If you\u2019re strolling through Parco Sempione and happen upon a building adorned with waves, fish, and a statue of Neptune, stop right there. That\u2019s the Acquario Civico (Civic Aquarium) – one of those Milanese gems that most tourists breeze past without a second thought, and honestly, they\u2019re missing out. <\/p>\n\n
The building was constructed in 1906 for the International Expo and is the only surviving pavilion from that event. Its architect, Sebastiano Locati, designed it in the Liberty style, which is Milan\u2019s take on Art Nouveau. He covered it in decorations that signal one thing from the moment you arrive: water rules here. The facade features a sculpture of Neptune by Oreste Lab\u00f2, and every detail, from the reliefs to the ceramic ornaments, evokes the underwater world. <\/p>\n\n
Inside, you’ll find a modest yet atmospheric route through freshwater and marine tanks, all arranged along an elliptical corridor. It is an intimate aquarium with a rich history that is worth visiting, if only to see the building itself. <\/p>\n