RESORT 4 STELLE AD ISOLA D'ELBA
HOTEL DÉSIRÉE
The splendour of the Elba Island aquarium, just a few kilometres from Désirée Hotel
A dive into the realm of the sea, at the Marina di Campo Aquarium
The Marina di Campo Aquarium is just 6 km by car from Désirée Hotel, heading towards the south-western side of the island, and offers visitors the rare emotion of admiring a wealth of Mediterranean sea creatures.
With around 60 tanks, spread across an indoor surface of more than 1000 square metres, the Aquarium recreates the natural habitat of 150 different species, including fish, crustaceans, molluscs and echinoderms, salvaged from fishing expeditions that often pay little attention to the protection of the rarest marine organisms.
The main attraction of the aquarium are the tanks housing the sharks and rays that are very common in the seas of the Tuscan Archipelago. This incredible biodiversity makes it one of the most complete aquariums in Italy.
Colourful, acrobatic crabs, mantis shrimp, starfish, giant snails and pelagic fish make a visit to the aquarium an entertaining experience.
The aquarium’s guests have included a number of famous creatures, such as Paul the Octopus, which earned renown for its ability to predict the result of the German team’s seven matches in 2010.
Protecting biodiversity
The environmental activities of the Aquarium
Every day, the aquarium offers visitors of all ages the chance not only to observe unusual creatures that cannot often be seen during dives, but also to learn to recognise and respect them.
One of the main aims of the Marina di Campo Aquarium is environmental education, and it is constantly committed to the recovery, rehabilitation and conservation of marine species that are accidentally captured or washed up on the beach. Loggerhead turtles are frequently hosted in the aquarium for treatment, and if their injuries are not severe, they are released back into the sea thanks to the collaboration of the Forestry Corps, the Port Captaincies and a number of environmental associations.
Since 2022, Marina di Campo Aquarium visitors can also enjoy Elba Brick, a section entirely dedicated to children and Lego fans, featuring an exhibition that illustrates the history of the world’s most famous bricks, from their invention until the present, with a variety of sets on a theme.