Dating to 1872, the Stazione Zoologica is Europe's oldest aquarium. Established by German Darwinist Anton Dohrn, it's housed in a stately neoclassical building designed by Adolf von Hildebrand. These days, the aquarium's tired-looking tanks are home to 200 species of marine flora and fauna from the city's bay. More impressive is the research library upstairs, where 19th-century frescoes by German painter Hans von Marées and Hildebrand capture scenes of Mediterranean life. Library visits must be pre-booked by phone.
