A Botanical Garden in Genoa
A Sphere of Glass and Steel
The Biosphere is a striking sphere of glass and steel designed by the architect Renzo Piano, which you can find in Genoa’s Porto Antico (the Old Port). Here you can learn about the plant and animal life in tropical forests, and find out more about these fragile environments that are highly endangered by human activities. Visitors will have the chance of taking a close look at more than 150 species, with their fragile beauty, and you will also find out why their survival depends on all of us.
You will see rare tropical plants: not only tree ferns, but also plants that are traditionally used for human activities, such as gum trees, coffee plants, banana trees and cinnamon. The tree ferns that grow in the Biosphere are the tallest cultivated plants of this species in the whole world.
Phalaenopsis amabilis, Dendrobium compactum
Orchids
Orchids belonging to the genus Dendrobium originally came from Eastern Asia, form the Himalaya Mountains, India, China and Australia.
Phalaenopsis amabilis is a species of orchid that came from the tropical region of Southeast Asia. It grows wild especially in India and Malaysia. Its leaves are elongated and highly decorative.
Eudocimus ruber
Scarlet ibis
Of all the animals that you can find in the Biosphere, the most striking is certainly the scarlet ibis, with its characteristic vivid red plumage. This birds lives in mangrove forests, in wetlands and other areas of shoreline, such as fresh and salt water estuaries of the North-West of South America. They feed mainly on crustaceans, molluscs and small fish, which they search in the mud using their long curved beak.
Pteridophyta
Tree Ferns
The big tree ferns are the crown jewel of the Biosphere. They are primitive plants that date back to the Carboniferous, a geologic period coming about 100 million years before the first dinosaurs appeared on Earth. When tree ferns first appeared on Earth, they started to put down roots almost everywhere on the world’s land surface, competing with other primitive plants without trunk. Over time, even if they maintained their original characteristics, they differentiated into thousands of species that are now widespread all over the world.
Passiflora phoenicea
Passiflora
Passiflora, a group of plants also known as passion flower, is a good site for butterflies to lay their eggs, because caterpillars feed on the leaves of these plants. To protect from these voracious animals, the species Passiflora phoenicea produces two false butterfly eggs on each stalk, so that butterflies have to look for other – less “crowded” –places to lay their eggs.
Not only Aquarium
Bigo Panoramic Lift
The panoramic lift 40 meters above te sea, offering a spectacular 360-degree view of the city of Genoa.
PLEASE NOTE: On Thursday, July 25, due to the high temperatures expected, Bigo panoramic lift will remain closed. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Biosfera
A "drop" of steel and glass suspended over the sea, which hosts vegetable and animal species coming from tropical forests threatened by human exploitation. You will be able to view them from close, admire their fragile beauty and understand how their survival also depends on you.
Acquario di Genova
Acquario di Genova, which has been expanded by adding the internal section "Tropical Garden – Un Battito d’Ali” (Wings flapping), has the most extensive range of aquatic biodiversity in Europe in terms of number of tanks and hosted species.
Every year, new areas and new species coming from endangered environments wait for visitors to experience time and again both emotional and educational moments.