Facebook page ‘The Curious Explorer - Revealing Malta’ recently posted a collection of photos from its latest venture, and they’re sure to take you back in time...
The collection of photos reveals a “lengthy tunnel dug into the rock of St.John's (Abercrombie) Bastion” which is believed to date back to the 19th century.
As the caption reads, this secret tunnel, “was possibly constructed as a counterscarp (defence) gallery which leads to Fort St.Elmo's ditch and contains one casemated gun emplacement.”
The St. John Bastion was built in the mid 1560’s to protect the main gate of what would become the capital city of Valletta. The massive limestone walls overlook the neighbouring town of Floriana.
The structure’s design was in the hands of well-renowned architect Francesco Laparelli da Cortona.
The photos show off carvings from inside the tunnel which read, ‘RE’, standing for ‘Royal Engineers’.
Another photo captured a shaft which one commentator said might lead to the “terra plain of the fort.”
Have you ever explored this tunnel?