Malta’s the Perfect Place for Secret Underground Spaces
Islands are often the last place you might think would work well for underground spaces, but Malta is a real exception.
The reason comes from the geology of the Maltese islands. Malta is comprised almost entirely of limestone, with the golden-hued globigerina limestone the type used in almost all construction.
This limestone is soft and easily carved, and as it ages the colour changes and the stone erodes slightly, often into a beautiful honeycomb formation.
Much of the inherent beauty of these islands come from this rock. When the sun is setting, the stone walls of the buildings almost glow from within. Photography cannot entirely capture this. Anyone walking the narrow passageways of Mdina at dusk knows this feeling; it is truly magical.
The ubiquity of the stone in construction and its natural erosion also lend the islands a sense of being organic that you can’t find elsewhere. In the older villages and cities, it almost feels like the houses grew from their stone beds, unaided by human hands.
Foreign buyers of Maltese properties need to be aware that the stone sheds. Living with dust is a way of life for any Maltese, and the closer you live to a construction project, the more dust you must contend with. Some recent innovations in stone conservation help reduce the dust shed inside, and it is always a good idea to enquire about what products were used to treat exposed stone walls.
Long story shorter, the Maltese islands are essentially large rocks (or the tops of extremely large rocks, to be more precise). Because of this, construction underground is far more feasible than if you have to dig through soil or roots.
Digging Into History
This underground construction has been taking place for centuries. Every now and then, you hear stories of someone excavating a new cellar or basement and uncovering a prehistoric temple or cave series. The remarkable Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Paola was discovered in 1902 when construction workers broke through the roof when building a new housing estate.
More recently, a set of underground caves, a sewer system and a 16th century cistern were discovered under the capital city of Valletta. For a country as densely populated and highly built-up as Malta is, it is amazing that so much history is still buried underfoot.
Buying a Piece of History
Although many of the properties in Malta are older than we see elsewhere in the world, it’s rare that a truly historic place comes onto the Curbsy books. We recently listed a 400-year-old palazzino in Zejtun, and its two underground levels inspired this article.
Although smaller than a palazzo (hence the name), at 366 square metres, this property is over twice the average size of a home in Malta. It has the architectural features required of this property type, including an impressively diverse collection of floor tiles.
But you’re not here for the tiles, you’re here for what’s underneath the tiles.
In space-starved Malta, a garden like this is a dream come true for many. With mature orange and lemon trees, flowering plants and a terrace, it is the perfect backdrop for garden parties or more formal events.
And this garden has a secret. Next to one of the lemon trees is an opening under the house, leading into a series of underground rooms that extend the full footprint of the property.
These rooms are a maze of spaces, big and small, with supporting curved arches throughout.
Wine cellar? Secret library? Private lounge and cocktail bar for friends and family? All of the above?
But that’s not all. This underground lair is not one level, but two. You can drop further down into a private shelter two storeys below street level.
Whilst a previous conversion was largely sympathetic to the historical features of this property, some rooms appear dated. These areas, and the property as a whole, require a great deal of work before they are liveable. But what a place when that work is done!
This palazzino is available for sale through Curbsy with an asking price of €794,251. Click that link to see a lot more photos and information on the property, both above and below ground.
What would you do with your own private underground lair? Comment below, we’d love to hear.
