Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Marine biology research institute in Naples, Italy.
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn is a marine biology research center in Naples that spans multiple buildings housing laboratories and collections. The facility contains tanks with Mediterranean organisms, extensive archival collections of scientific materials, and spaces where researchers actively study and observe marine species.
The facility was founded in 1872 when German naturalist Anton Dohrn established a center for studying marine organisms. The project received support from leading scientists of the era, making the institute important for international marine research from its beginning.
The institute houses a functioning aquarium where visitors can observe Mediterranean fish and marine creatures in maintained tanks. It serves as a place where people learn about sea life from the waters around Naples, acting as both a teaching space and a direct connection to the local marine environment.
Visitors can explore the aquarium and select exhibition areas, though most buildings are reserved for research. It is wise to check ahead about which sections are open to the public, as not all parts of the facility are accessible.
The aquarium here is one of Europe's oldest dedicated to Mediterranean species and has been continuously open to visitors since the 1870s. Its long history makes it a window into 19th-century marine biology, shaped by the scientific approaches and discoveries of that era.
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