Marine Aquarium – Trieste

The Aquarium was established in 1933, conceived as an open cycle aquarium (sea-tanks-sea) both for the materials used and for its water circulation system. On the ground floor there are thirty tanks of different sizes that hold Adriatic fauna, including various groups of coelenterates, annelids, molluscs, echinoderms, crustaceans and fish. 

On the first floor the Vivarium houses snakes, lizards, amphibians and turtles coming from the Region and adjacent areas. A large basin shows the biotope of the Karst basins whilst in a large vertical terrarium live large tropical animals like iguanas, pythons or boa snakes on a rotational basis.

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History

The fish market building was erected in 1913 based on 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 elevated tank of sea water which was then sent to the fish sales stalls. The fishmonger was made up of a large central hall, with sales counters, while on the side opposite the aquarium, where the main entrance to the exhibition hall is now located, there was the room for the auctions of the catch. One of the sales counters is still displayed within the exhibition area.

The Marine Aquarium was built in 1933, adapting the systems in the rooms on one side of the Central Fish Market building and precisely in the part that includes the clock tower.

25 tanks were built with capacities varying from 200 to 2500 liters and a central tank of 17,000 litres.

The water is taken from the sea at the base of the pier adjacent to the fish market and, using a powerful pumping system, is pushed into the clock tower about 10 m. in height.

Here a large settling tank is filled, from which the water is delivered to the ground floor by gravity. The system is therefore an open circle which, despite lacking adequate filtering, has the advantage of continuously replacing the water, leaving its plankton content intact.

Source: www.aquariomarinotrieste.it