What Costa Edutainment does

Costa Edutainment S.p.A. is an Italian edutainment company that operates a portfolio of 11+ recreational, cultural, and educational attractions across Italy, including three major aquariums (Acquario di Genova, Acquario di Cattolica, Acquario di Livorno), three water parks (Aquafan, Caravelle, Onda Blu), a theme park (Italia in Miniatura), a family experience park (Oltremare), and supporting facilities such as the Bigo panoramic elevator, Biosfera tropical structure, and the La Città dei Bambini e dei Ragazzi experience museum. Several flagship assets are housed in Renzo Piano-designed structures originally built for Expo '92 in Porto Antico, Genoa, and certain sites (e.g., Acquario di Livorno) hold official Scientific Institute recognition. The company traces its roots to the Costa family's commercial activity dating to 1849, was formally incorporated in 1997 to manage Acquario di Genova, and has grown primarily through acquisitions and partnerships that consolidated Italian edutainment assets in Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Abruzzo, and Lazio.

The business operates three primary revenue streams: (1) consumer ticket sales to families, tourists, and school groups at its physical venues, with Acquario di Genova attracting approximately 1 million visitors annually and Caravelle around 120,000; (2) B2B corporate event venue rentals at Acquario di Genova and other properties, generating 150+ events per year through a dedicated events department; and (3) packaged tourism services via the C-WAY tour operator, a joint venture with Opera Laboratori Fiorentini that is ISO 9001 certified. Distribution is omnichannel in a conventional sense: direct at-venue sales, online ticketing, school and educational partnerships, corporate event sales, and packaged tourism through C-WAY. Customer segments are diversified across families with children (primary), educational institutions, corporate/enterprise event clients, and domestic and international tourists.

Ownership remains anchored by the founding Costa family, with institutional capital partners having rotated through the cap table: VEI Capital held a 16% stake from 2016 to 2019, Oaktree entered in 2019 and exited in 2022, and DeA Capital Alternative Funds entered in July 2022 with 10% and increased to an additional 8% in September 2023 via a 15 million euro investment at a 187.5 million euro post-money valuation, with illimity Bank and Muzinich & Co as supporting capital partners. The company holds a wholly owned subsidiary structure for acquired assets (Caravelle water park and Camping Village) and a 50/50 joint venture with Opera Laboratori for C-WAY, while 2015 saw a merger with Costa Parchi that positioned the group within Italian Entertainment Network (IEN).

Name

Costa Edutainment

Legal name

Costa Edutainment S.p.A.

Website

https://costaedutainment.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Costa Edutainment is an Italian edutainment operator running aquariums (Acquario di Genova, Cattolica, Livorno), water parks (Aquafan, Caravelle, Onda Blu), and theme parks (Italia in Miniatura, Oltremare) across Italy, serving families, tourists, school groups, and corporate event clients through ticket sales, venue rentals, and its C-WAY tour operator.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational and Cultural Attractions

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational & Edutainment Parks (Science/Discovery/Children’s Parks) (THAJAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Parks (THAAAAAB), Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Edutainment attractions
• Aquarium operations
• Theme park management
• Water park services
• Marine conservation exhibits

Headquarters

HQ city

Genoa

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from admission tickets to aquariums (Acquario di Genova, Acquario di Cattolica, Acquario di Livorno), theme parks (Oltremare, Italia in Miniatura), and water parks (Aquafan, Caravelle, Onda Blu). The Acquario di Genova alone attracts approximately 1 million visitors annually.
2. Corporate Event Venue Rentals: Revenue from hosting corporate events including conventions, product presentations, fashion shows, and tailor-made events. The company hosts over 150 events per year across its venues including 3 pavilions, 10 rooms, 1 auditorium, and the Deck of the Blue Ship.
3. Tour Operator Services (C-WAY): C-WAY, the company's tour operator subsidiary, generates revenue through packaged tourism experiences including travels, stays, tourist excursions, transfers, and guided tours across Costa Edutainment attractions.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Costa Edutainment S.p.A. operates and manages a diversified portfolio of edutainment attractions across Italy, including aquariums, water parks, theme parks, and family experience museums, combining entertainment with educational and scientific content. The company generates revenue through ticket admissions to its venues, corporate event hosting at its facilities, and packaged tourism services via its C-WAY tour operator subsidiary.

Product overview

Costa Edutainment is a diversified edutainment company operating a portfolio of attractions across Italy. The company manages 6 major aquariums (Acquario di Genova, Acquario di Cattolica, Acquario di Livorno), 3 water parks (Aquafan, Caravelle, Onda Blu), 1 theme park (Italia in Miniatura), 1 family experience park (Oltremare), and supporting facilities including the Bigo panoramic elevator and Biosfera. Additional offerings include event venue services at Acquario di Genova and the C-WAY tour operator. The company positions itself around the 'divertiamoci imparando' (learning through fun) philosophy, combining education, entertainment, and science experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Acquario di Genova One of Europe's largest aquariums, designed by Renzo Piano for Expo '92 and managed by Costa Edutainment since 1993. Features 70 exhibition tanks housing over 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates, welcoming approximately 1 million visitors annually.
• La Città dei Bambini e dei Ragazzi Italy's first experience museum dedicated to the Five Senses for children aged 2 to 12, located under Acquario di Genova. Features 2,000 square meters of exhibition space with over 40 interactive exhibits.
• Biosfera A glass and steel spherical structure designed by Renzo Piano, located at Porto Antico in Genoa. Houses tropical organisms, animals, and plants in a botanical garden representing tropical forest ecosystems.
• Bigo Panoramic Elevator Panoramic elevator designed by Renzo Piano and built for Expo '92. Rises to approximately 40 meters and can transport 66 people, offering panoramic views of Genoa and its port.
• Acquario di Livorno Aquarium located inside Terrazza Mascagni in Livorno, reopened July 31, 2020 after 11 years of closure. Features Indo-Pacific tanks, Kelp tank, jellyfish displays, tactile tanks, and panoramic terrace. Recognized as a Scientific Institute.
• Acquario di Cattolica Italy's second largest aquarium and the largest in the Adriatic Sea. Located in 1930s buildings shaped like a naval fleet. Houses 3,000 specimens of 400 species including bull sharks, penguins, otters, rays, and jellyfish.
• Italia in Miniatura Theme park in Rimini since 1970 featuring 300 miniature reproductions of Italian and European architectural heritage, 5,000 miniature trees, and attractions including Venice in 1:5 scale, monorail, and interactive experiences.
• Oltremare Family experience park in Riccione spanning 110,000 square meters focused on four natural elements. Features Dolphin Lagoon (Europe's largest), Falconry Arena, Delta canoe area, Farm, and Australia Experience zone.
• Aquafan Water park in Riccione spanning 90,000 square meters, claimed to be the most popular water park in Europe. Features M280 slide (280 meters), wave pool, and numerous water attractions for all ages.
• Caravelle Water Park Water park in Ceriale, Liguria, spanning 80,000 square meters with average 120,000 visitors annually. Features slides, toboggans, kamikaze rides, wave pool, and relaxation areas. Acquired by Costa Edutainment in July 2022.
• Caravelle Camping Village Tourist village bordering Caravelle water park, spanning over 24,000 square meters. Offers 62 two-room or three-room bungalows and camping area. Joined Costa Edutainment in July 2022.
• Acquapark Onda Blu Water park extending over 120,000 square meters between Tortoreto Lido and Giulianova, the main water park in the Abruzzo region. Features numerous pools, slides, themed areas, and relaxation zones.
• C-WAY Tour Operator Tour operator born from the synergy between Costa Edutainment and Opera Laboratori Fiorentini. Specializes in personalized tourism proposals with high artistic and cultural content, including travels, stays, tourist excursions, transfers, and guided tours. ISO 9001 certified.
• Corporate Event Venue Services Corporate event hosting services at Acquario di Genova offering over 150 events per year. Includes 3 pavilions, 10 rooms, 1 auditorium, and the Deck of the Blue Ship for conferences, product presentations, and tailored events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Acquario di Genova attracts approximately 1 million visitors annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Opera Laboratori FiorentinicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2023Opera Laboratori Fiorentini is the strategic partner for industrial integration with Costa Edutainment. They performed the restoration of Acquario di Livorno (reopened July 31, 2020 after 11 years of closure) and are key partners in expanding cultural and touristic activities.
• C-WAYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerC-WAY is a tour operator company born from the synergy between Costa Edutainment and Opera Laboratori. It operates as an official tour operator for Costa Edutainment attractions, providing specialized tourism services including travels, stays, tourist excursions, transfers, and guided tours. ISO 9001 certified.
• Bioparco di RomaminorOthersCosta Edutainment co-founded Bioparco Spa with the Municipality of Rome in 1998. Today it operates as Fondazione Bioparco di Roma.
• Fondazione Acquario di GenovaminorOthersFoundation associated with Acquario di Genova for supporting marine conservation and educational initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Parques Reunidos: Spanish-based multi-attraction leisure operator running theme parks, water parks, zoos and aquariums across Europe and the Americas; closely comparable as a diversified, multi-site European edutainment/leisure consolidator.
• Compagnie des Alpes: French-listed operator of ski resorts, theme parks (Parc Astérix, Futuroscope) and leisure sites; comparable as a European diversified attractions operator with mixed B2C/B2B venue model.
• Gardaland (Merlin Entertainments): Italy's largest theme park, owned by Merlin Entertainments and located near Lake Garda; directly comparable as a major Italian theme park competing for the same family tourism wallet along the northern Adriatic corridor.
• SEA LIFE (Merlin Entertainments): Global chain of aquariums operated by Merlin Entertainments; directly comparable to Costa Edutainment's three-acquarium portfolio (Genova, Cattolica, Livorno) in exhibit design, school-group programming and family ticket model.
• Oceanogràfic (Avanqua): Largest aquarium in Europe, located within the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias complex in Valencia; highly comparable as a flagship Mediterranean aquarium combining marine exhibits with education and corporate events.
• Zoomarine Italia: Italian marine park in Rome area combining dolphin encounters, water park and aquariums; directly competes with Costa Edutainment's aquarium and water park properties for Italian family tourism and school groups.
• Mirabilandia: Major Italian theme park on the Adriatic coast near Ravenna; direct peer competing for the same Romagna-region family tourism base that Anchors Costa Edutainment's Oltremare, Aquafan and Italia in Miniatura.
• PortAventura World: Spanish integrated resort (theme park + water park + hotels + aquarium) operated by Investindustrial; comparable as a Mediterranean multi-attraction resort with significant corporate event business.
• Bioparco di Roma: Rome zoo originally co-founded by Costa Edutainment in 1998 and now operated by Fondazione Bioparco di Roma; directly comparable as an Italian zoological attraction with conservation, education and family ticketing missions.

Broad incumbents

• Merlin Entertainments: Global operator of LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE aquariums and other attractions; comparable as a global multi-format edutainment/leisure platform, with SEA LIFE aquariums being the most direct overlap to Costa Edutainment's aquarium portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Costa Edutainment