Acquario della flora e della fauna dulcacquicola italiana. Project for a living monument to Saint Francis of Assisi

The paper presents the experience related to the project of the ‘Acquario della flora e della fauna dulcacquicola italiana’ in the city of Assisi, interpreted as a living monument to Saint Francis, considered the first true ecologist in history, and dedicated to the study, conservation and reproduction of native freshwater species. The project, drawn up in 1991 by the architects Franco Antonelli and Sergio Lenci, while intervening in the regeneration of a specific area identified in the Regina Margherita park, fell within a broader context of the promotion of Franciscan culture, called ‘Sorella Natura’ (Sister Nature), and was supported by a rich scientific committee involving important institutions active on the national scene.