- Reading
- 3 min
- Access
- on foot
- Difficulty
- easy
Xerri's Grotto in Xaghra was discovered in 1923 by Anthony Xerri while digging a well under his house. A 10-metre spiral staircase leads to a cave of stalactites.
A discovery beneath the house
In 1923, Anthony Xerri from the village of Xaghra was digging a well under his house. A few metres down, he struck a void. It turned out that beneath his home lay a beautiful cave filled with speleothem formations. Xerri's Grotto, as it became known, has been a tourist attraction run by the Xerri family ever since.
Stalactites and stalagmites
You descend via a spiral staircase roughly 10 metres long, built into the original well shaft. At the bottom, a circular route of about 30 metres unfolds. Formations ranging from 25 cm to a metre in height take fanciful shapes that local guides liken to a tortoise, a vulture, giraffes, or elephant's ears. Some stalactites are semi-translucent.
Two caves of Xaghra
Xerri's Grotto is not the only cave beneath Xaghra's houses. Just a few streets away lies Ninu's Cave, discovered in 1888 in identical fashion, also while digging a well. Both caves can be visited in a single walk through Xaghra.
Practical tip: Both caves are small family-run attractions. Entry is about EUR 5 each. A visit takes about 15 minutes, so you can easily combine both in one walk through Xaghra, adding the Ggantija temples nearby.
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Tip
Ring the doorbell at the house — the family runs tours. EUR 3 entry. Only 10 minutes but worth it.
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