Xerri's Grotto

Xerri's Grotto (pronounced sherry) is a cave in the village of Xagħra, Gozo, Malta. It was discovered by local resident Anthony Xerri in 1923[1] or 1924[2] while digging a well under a private house. Xerri's Grotto is not far from another underground feature, Ninu's Cave.

Xerri's Grotto
LocationXagħra, Gozo, Malta
Coordinates36°03′04.5″N 14°15′40.9″E
Discovery1923 or 1924
AccessOpen to the public
LightingElectric

The grotto is larger than Ninu's Cave. It contains various calcified formations, including stalactites and stalagmites, some of which resemble a tortoise, a vulture, giraffes or elephant's ears. Some other formations which developed as a result of the calcification of tree roots can also be seen.[3]

The entrance to the cave is down a 10m spiral staircase, built into the original well shaft. The cave was extended during World War II when the family used it as an air raid shelter.[2]

Today, the cave is illuminated by electric lights, and is open to the public with tours being given by the owners of the house.

References

  1. "Xerri's Grotto". digigate.net/xerri. 1996. Archived from the original on 1 September 2000.
  2. "Xerri's Grotto". visitgozo.com. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  3. Oldham, Tony (2002). "Għar Xerri". showcaves.com. Retrieved 8 May 2015.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.