FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In this section you will find answers to frequently asked questions about:
Tickets, Schedules & Calendar, Animals, Services, Accessibility (strollers and prams), Discounts-Conventions-Hotel

TICKETS
How much does the ticket for the Cattolica Aquarium cost?
To know the rates, click HERE
Free admission for children under the meter and non self-sufficient disabled people (Law 104)

What does the ticket include?
The entrance ticket includes a visit to all four routes ( Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple and, in high season, to the World of Dinosaurs ).
Not included: restaurants, shop purchases, parking.

Are there guided tours by appointment?
Appointment on reservation can be booked on arrival. Info HERE

How long does the visit last?
The duration of the visit is between 2 and 4 hours.

Can I go out and back in the same day with the same ticket?
Yes, it is possible to exit and re-enter: ask for assistance from the staff on duty so that you do not have to pay the entrance again.

How long is the Cattolica Aquarium ticket valid?
The Cattolica Aquarium ticket is valid for one day, once it has been checked it is no longer refundable (Article 74 of Presidential Decree 633/72).
It must be kept at hand for the entire visit and shown in the event of a tax check.
Unchecked tickets can be used on any day of the opening calendar of the current season.

Can I pay by credit card or debit card?
Yes, the box office, the souvenir shops and the snack bar accept payments by debit or credit card

TIMETABLE & CALENDAR
When is the Cattolica Aquarium open?
For timetables and calendar, click HERE

Do the routes have the same timetable as the ticket office?
Blue Route: opens at the same time as the ticket office, closes 30 minutes after the ticket closes.
Yellow, Green and Purple Route: open 30 minutes later than the box office and close 1 hour after the box office

Can I visit the Aquarium when it rains?
Yes, the pavilions are indoors. However, since the Aquarium is a popular destination on rainy days, queues can quicky build in the outdoors.

How can I reach the Cattolica Aquarium?
For information on how to reach the Cattolica Aquarium by car, train or bus, click HERE

ANIMALS

What animals are there at the Cattolica Aquarium?
The Cattolica Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the Adriatic and the second largest in Italy. Its 2,500,000 liters of sea water are home to thousands of animals of hundreds of different species.
At the Aquarium you will find: the largest bull sharks in Italy, fish, jellyfish, moray eels, crustaceans, corals, seahorses, starfish and thousands of marine organisms, sharks of various species, penguins ( Blue pavillion), otters, caimans (Yellow pavillion), snakes, saurians, amphibians, insects ( Green pavillion)
The Aquarium hosts no dolphins or whales.

Are dogs and pets allowed?
Only small dogs and pets are allowed and only if kept in one's arms, or in carrier bags.
Guide dogs (seeing-eye dogs) are allowed in.

May I touch the animals?
The only contact allowed is with the stingrays in the touchpool

May I swim with the sharks?
No, diving in the shark tanks it is not allowed nor advisable.

May I take photos or videos?
Photos and videos are allowed: just make sure the flash is turned off so you will not damage the animals' eyes. .
Please, tag @acquariodicattolica_ ( with underscore ) on #instagram!

Are there any live animals in the Purple pavillion? 
No, the Purple route hosts educational and exhibitions and hosts no live animals.

SERVICES (Toilets, Restaurants, Parking lots, Outdoor areas)

Where are the toilets located? Are there toilets for the disabled?
The trivalent services accessible from the outside are located in the Viola pavilion (ground floor).
There are separate male-female-disabled toilet facilities inside the Blue, Green and Purple pavilions.

Are there any refreshment points?
Yes, within the Blue route: snack bar # Colonia34, managed by the Aquarium. Offers: cafeteria, drinks, first courses, wraps, toast, sandwiches and packaged ice creams.
Outside the park: Restaurant of the Pesce Azzurro chain. Offers: self service with fixed menu of fish at Km0. Info restaurant: 0541 831919.

Can I bring a packed lunch?
Yes, in the green outdoor area there are two gazebos and several tables at your disposal.

Are there any products for celiacs?
No, gluten-free foods are not available at the # Colonia34 snack bar.

Are there parking spaces for cars and campers?
Yes, there are car and camper parking lots adjacent to the park, entrusted to external management by the "La Brianza" Cooperative.
Infoline: 333-3444174.

Do you have a lost property office?
Yes, for lost or found items, contact the park information office or call us on 0541 8371.

Can I buy tobacco and refills inside the park?
No, the Aquarium does not have tobacco shops, mobile phone top-ups and newspapers.

Is it possible to use the outdoor green areas?
Yes, the outdoor green area of 49,000 square meters can be used in the same way as a public park.

ACCESSIBILITY (1) - Children & Strollers

Can I visit the Aquarium with a baby in the stroller?
Yes, we inform you, however, that there are flights of stairs within the Blue and Purple routes: we recommend that parents use backpacks or baby carriers.
Strollers can be left at the entrance to the Blue and Purple routes (unattended storage).
In replacement of the stroller, the Aquarium offers backpacks on loan, subject to availability.
(service temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 protocol)

Are there changing tables to change the baby?
Yes, in the dressing rooms of the toilets, there are changing tables, accessible by mum and dad,

Can baby food and bottles be heated?
No, the HACCP regulations and anti COVID-19 protocols do not allow us to handle food brought from outside.

ACCESSIBILITY (2) - Disabled people

Are the routes accessible to the disabled?
Yes, the Aquarium guarantees the full visit of the 3 routes with live animals ( Blue, Yellow and Green) to people with disabilities.
The Blue route can be visited despite the presence of stairs: one of our operators will be at your disposal to accompany you through an alternative access. The Yellow and Green routes are independently accessible to wheelchair users.

Access to the educational exhibition in the Viola route (average visit time 20 ') is not wheelchair accessible due to the presence of architectural barriers (flights of stairs).

DISCOUNTS, CONVENTIONS, SUBSCRIPTIONS, HOTELS

Are there discounted tickets?
Yes, by purchasing your ticket online at least the day before your visit, you will get discounted rates.
For the online ticket office, click HERE

Do you have agreements with membership cards and fidelity cards?
Yes, to find out which cards the Aquarium has an agreement with, click HERE

Can a subscription be made to the Cattolica Aquarium?
Yes, find all the details HERE

Are there any hotels that have an agreement with the Cattolica Aquarium?
Yes, for a list of hotels that collaborate with the Aquarium, click HERE


FACILITIES FOR GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES, INVALIDITY AND L.104

Children with Law 104: 
free admission for the child; reduced admission (€ 19)  for an accompanying person

Guests with 100% disability:
- Admission is free on presentation of appropriate certification (see below which is accepted).
- The accompanying person is always entitled to the reduced ticket.
- Any other members of the group purchase the ticket at the regular rate.
- If you wish to access the park several times, you can request a season ticket at a cost of € 5 to be taken out exclusively at the ticket offices on presentation of the certification.
Alternatively, you can request a free ticket for each admission, again by presenting your certification.

Guests with disabilities between 75% and 99%:
- A discounted ticket is available, which can be purchased at the park ticket offices upon presentation of certification (see below which is accepted)
- The accompanying person is not entitled to any reduction.

Season tickets for accompanying persons:
- There are no discounts on season tickets for any accompanying person.

Certifications Accepted:
One of the following valid documents must be presented in order to qualify for free passes:
- INPS/ASL certification (indicating the percentage of disability).
- Disability Card: only allows entry at a reduced rate.
- The Unified European Disability Card (the blue card) is not accepted.