The Ariis Aquarium

The Ariis Aquarium is a real gallery of fresh water that is home to fish species from the river ecosystem of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

It is in Ariis, a wonderful little rural village that holds evidence of a natural history of rare beauty beginning with the Stella River and its karst springs, then the Villa Ottelio Park, an ancient windmill and a historic little church dedicated to Saint James.

We recommend that you begin your exploration right at the ancient brick-red palace: this is the Villa Ottelio that, after it was built as a castle in 1257, spent centuries as a home base for power games among the local nobility, especially in the salt trade; but with the ascent of Palmanova as a fortress, its strategic importance vanished: its appearance began to change, little by little turning into a villa, and only in the early 1800s did the Savorgnan family surrender its home to Count Ottelio.

Today, the villa is being remodelled, but we suggest you take a walk in its park, now a Site of Community Importance due to its springs, its moist, stable meadows, and century-old trees; an attractive natural scene enhanced by the important presence of the Stella River.

Not far from the villa you will find the Paolo Solimbergo Aquarium, a modern building that contains various tanks demonstrating the course of a river from the spring to the mouth and the many aquatic species that live there. Also worth seeing is the natural trail in the aquarium, which, carved from a bend in the river, hosts large pools partially covered with cane thickets and waterlilies and surrounded by oaks and weeping willows.

Admission is free upon reservation.

Possibility of free guided tours inside the aquarium and in the outdoor area, upon reservation.