I was very surprised to see that Alghero had an aquarium, but with a few hours to kill before taking my flight home decided to pay it a visit. I was absolutley shocked by this place. Possibly the worst aquarium that I have EVER visited.

The fish and turtles are kept in terribly small tanks that cannot possibly be good. My partner and I left the place feeling very unnerved and unhappy by what we had seen. The worst of all were the tiny tanks used to house some rather large ocean going turtles. A close runner up was the tanks that a moray eel inhabited, the poor eel could hardly move. Never mind the sharks that were in a three meter long tank. This place is disgusting and should be closed down. The owners of the aquarium are making money (€8.00 per adult) on the suffering of these fish.

There are indeed some nice creatures here. But the poor things are living in squalor and as others have pointed out, no plants and no cleaning evident. A huge eel in a small tank where it can barely turn round. Many fish still and lifeless looking.

We will be sending photos to the RSPCA to see if there is a similar organisation in Italy to take action.

The stairs are dangerous as well.

We visited Alghero for Christmas/New Year and having read that the Aquarium (off Piazza Sulis) had some interesting exhibits decided to visit on our penultimate day of leaving.

It was very disappointing in many ways. On entering there are shell exhibits etc., which are interesting. As my interest was taken, I very nearly fell down some unmarked steps and would be very surprised if this has never actually happened to someone before. The floor is of neutral tiling and none of our small party of 3 had spotted them.

Generally, all the fish being exhibited are in very poor and sorry tanks, with very little or no plants in them. Many are in tanks smaller than those you so often see in restaurants now (and, with less inside to occupy the occupants).

However, for me the most distressing sight was that of one of the Aquarium's 2 turtles. This is the first turtle one comes to after entering and is housed with, if I remenber correctly, 3 or 4 medium-sized fish. There is nothing at all of interest for the poor creature. It swims around and around, constantly knocking into the sides of the tank. It is by no means a small turtle and I cannot believe that it is humane to have it housed in such a miserable excuse for an aquarium. It's shell was not clean either and there was some kind of growth on it's front flipper, near the shell (whether or not this is normal I don't k now).

There was a further, slightly smaller turtle, in another tank with some fish, which seemed "happier". Again though, the tank was devoid of marine plants etc.

As the exbibits progressed my heart sank lower. Some of the tanks were absolutely filthy and in one there was even a dead fish lying at the bottom. One tank housed so many terrapins, of varying sizes, it was a case of spot the available space. They were stacked on top of one another like plates draining.

Finally, the only language any information is displayed in is Italian. That's fine, but then there should be leaflets available, to purchase if neccessary, at the entrance so that visitors from other countries can read about the different fish etc. being displayed.

I did politely say what I felt about the turtle on leaving, but was told it's normal and fine.

I have visited many aquariums both at home and abroad and this is certainly not one I would recommend visiting; at least not until it receives an overhaul, with tanks being cleaned out, more marine plants and appropriate objects put in them for our interest as well as that of the fish; less overcrowding / larger tanks where appropriate; better lighting; non-Italian speaking visitors catered for; steps clearly marked to prevent accidents.

Save yourself the money and in the summer go on a boat trip instead.

This has to be an expensive waste of money, 8 Euros to watch sea creatures swim about in very small tanks. There are some very strange eels within the buildings but anyone who has a care for wildlife do not support this place as the conditions are not very good. The service was very good but save your money and go and sit in the bar opposite and watch the video outside the building.