The Aquarium of Cattolica is located within the spaces of Le Navi Aquatic Park in ​Cattolica, an unusual architectural complex built in 1934 by architect Clemente Busiri Vici. Originally intended for a seaside holiday camp for children of Italians abroad, these spaces take up the forms of ships and submarines, thus creating innovative buildings very close to the futuristic concept that saw the “machine”, with all the symbolism attached to it, as a modernist myth. After seeing the alternation of vicissitudes and various destinations of use during and after the Second World War, from year 2000 it houses the modern Aquarium of Cattolica, the largest in Europe, that, with its thematic routes leads the public to the discovery of Land and Sea. The restoration and change of use has been made with the utmost respect of the original structure, to preserve all the historical value. Equipped with innovative technologies, the Aquarium unfolds in three different laboratories: Geopolis, designed as a place for monitoring and studying the planet, where a virtual elevator goes down to 3200 meters below sea level, exploring the deep sea, and gradually rising to the imaginary surface of a platform in the sea, encountering on the way many species of fish; Acquopolis, Observatory on marine flora and fauna that shows the visitor the ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea and the tropical seas with more than four hundred species exhibited in fifty tanks; eventually Archeopolis, where with a unique multimedia experience, you will discover the treasures left by the man on the seabed, visiting archaeological marine sites and showing techniques, methods and tools used by scientists for research.

The Aquarium, overlooking the sea, covers an area of ​​approximately 110,000 square meters and houses over 3000 specimens of about 4000 different species, thus representing a priceless heritage for scientific studies. After finishing the visit, you can continue to enjoy all the services offered by Le Navi Aquatic Park, including the beach and the garden.

Talking about the sea, just a short walk from the Aquarium of Cattolica is one of those restaurants where a simple sardine skewer tells the history and flavors of these places: at the Restaurant La Puracia (Via Gran Bretagna 2, phone 0541 830 760) the fish is still cooked on a charcoal grill. Also reported from the guide “The Mangiarozzo” (do not be fooled by the adjective: this guide points out those cheap restaurants, with a family atmosphere and cuisine which is closely linked to the delicacies of the region, reinventing tradition and quality), the main dish of this restaurant is obviously the grill, always fresh! If you are a little bit in a hurry you can think of a very different solution, such as self-service Al Pesce Azzurro, right at the Aquarium of Cattolica (Pl. Delle Nazioni 1/A, phone 0541 831 186, 0541 835 911): here you have a fixed menu, with appetizer, first course, fish main course, excellent and very cheap! With just a few euros you can have lunch or dinner with the guarantee to find fresh and delicious produces, from marinated sardines to seafood risotto. Ideal for a short and healthy break without any need of the piggy bank!