The Aquarium of Rhodes is a stunning building that encases an interesting collection of marine life and is a must-see for anyone who has found a vacation rental in Rhodes.
Built during the Italian occupation of the Dodecanese Islands, under Governor Mario Lago as the Reale Istituto di Ricerche Biologiche di Rodi (Royal Biological Research Institute of Rhodes) in Cape of Mili, the northernmost point of Rhodes Island, in 1934, it was designed by Italian architect Armando Bernabiti. Combining local and Art Deco architectural elements with naval aesthetics like curved lines, porthole-like windows and a central cylindrical tower and the marine-fauna inspired entrance decoration, it is a charming and iconic structure. This has not really been altered over the years but in the 1970s, an exhibition hall and a pool for the seals were added to the north side of the building. The original interior also remains and was decorated with porous rocks and natural seashells and a floor paved with a black and white pebble mosaic. Stepping inside, therefore, feels like entering an underwater cave.
In 1937, the institute began its work, focusing mostly on biological and hydrological subjects related to the Aegean Sea and trying to deal with problems in sponge fishing, fisheries and agricultural entomology. They also established an aquarium with interesting samples of Mediterranean fauna. It continued operating even after the when Dodecanese Islands were united with Greece as a Regional Station of the Hellenic Hydrobiological Institute under Athens Academy of Sciences auspices.
Since 1963, with its present name, the Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes, it has operated as an aquarium and museum and research unit of the Hellenic Center for Marine Research. The building itself has been declared an historical landmark by the Greek Ministry of Culture and a visit allows you to admire it as an architectural gem as well as take in the interesting fauna and flora species that are endemic to the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean Seas, its exhibits, informative material and video-projections.
Rhodes Aquarium
Rhodes 851 00, Greece
Opening hours:
From April 1st to October 1st: 9am to 8.30pm
From November 1st to March 31st: at 9am to 4.30pm
Closed on Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday, Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year’s Day (January 1).
