Xerri's Grotto is a

cave A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...

Xagħra Xagħra ( mt, Ix-Xagħra) is an administrative unit of Malta, on the island of Gozo. It is one of the earliest inhabited parts of Gozo, being home to the Ġgantija megalithic temples which date back to the year 3600BC and the Xagħra Stone Circle ...

Gozo Gozo (, ), Maltese: ''Għawdex'' () and in antiquity known as Gaulos ( xpu, 𐤂𐤅𐤋, ; grc, Γαῦλος, Gaúlos), is an island in the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After t ...

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

. It was discovered by local resident Anthony Xerri in 1923 or 1924 while digging a well under a private house. Xerri's Grotto is not far from another underground feature,

Ninu's Cave Ninu's Cave is a cave in Xagħra, Gozo, Malta. Ninu's Cave was discovered by local resident Joseph Rapa in 1888 while digging a well under a private house. Ninu's Cave is not far from another underground feature, Xerri's Grotto. The cave is forme ...

. The grotto is larger than Ninu's Cave. It contains various calcified formations, including

stalactite A stalactite (, ; from the Greek 'stalaktos' ('dripping') via ''stalassein'' ('to drip') is a mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or man-made structures such as bridges and mines. Any material that is soluble an ...

s and

stalagmite A stalagmite (, ; from the Greek , from , "dropping, trickling") is a type of rock formation that rises from the floor of a cave due to the accumulation of material deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings. Stalagmites are typically ...

s, 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. 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 World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

when the family used it as an air raid shelter. 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

Caves of Malta Limestone caves Air raid shelters Xagħra {{Malta-geo-stub