The first design of a marine aquarium in Cala Gonone was created by Peter Chermayeff (an American architect also designer of Lisbon Oceanarium, Osaka Aquarium, Genova Aquarium), who intended to emphasize Sardinian historical cultural context, strongly marched by the dichotomy between sea and mountains.
Conceived as an imaginary journey with a strictly educational aim, it was supposed to be an exhibit in 5 tanks,; the second design made by Arch. Sebastiano Gaias (author of many remarkable projects such as Tharros Center Service, Ghilarza’s Art Museum, Nivola’s Art Museum in Orani) enlarged the project : tanks grew from five to 24 and the building becomes a public aquarium whose main purpose is to explore Mediterranean sea and his habitats, particularly those of Sardinia. Your visit will take you through seashore until deeper waters with a short section devoted to tropical seas.