Porto Antico of Genoa is a former port area restored in to a design by the Genoese architect Renzo Piano to mark the th anniversary of the discovery of America. At the Porto Antico you can spend from a couple of hours simply strolling around and eating an ice cream or a cone of fritters, with an obligatory stop at the playground if you have children in tow, to a whole day visiting the museums and the many attractions it offers. It can also be the starting point to explore the historical centre of Genoa by entering one of the many caruggi alleys that run inland.
With its 70 tanks housing some 10, animals of different species, the Aquarium of Genoa is the largest in Europe. The visit will take you about hours. There are four rooms taste and smell, touch, sight, hearing plus the construction room and the one dedicated to year olds , where children and teenagers years old can use their 5 senses to take a journey of discovery of themselves and the world around them through direct experience.
Access is through the Aquarium building, the entrance is directly opposite the Biosphere. The Bigo is a panoramic lift designed by architect Renzo Piano and located in the Porto Antico area, more precisely in Calata Cattaneo opposite Eataly. The cabin arrives from a height of 40 metres and, once at the top, starts rotating on itself.
A voice-guide meanwhile explains all the sights that are visible from above : from the various attractions inside the Porto Antico such as the Aquarium, the Biosphere, the Galata Museo del Mare, the Vascello Neptune, Palazzo San Giorgio, the folkloristic Sottoripa , the old town, the Lanterna di Genova in the distance, and finally arriving at the Genoa Forts on the heights.
Tickets β 5. This is the spherical glass and steel structure, designed by architect Renzo Piano , located opposite the Genoa Aquarium. Here more than species of tropical plants can be observed thanks to a computerised conditioning system. In addition to plants, one can observe various animal species such as turtles , fish , insects and birds like the scarlet ibis, the mandarin diamond or the rare weaver bird.
