BLUE CAVE

Before visiting the grotto, you can climb down the cliff-level staircases, which leave the road at the signposts and allow you to admire the view and the entrance to the caves. Just above the cave, a large parking lot, a few restaurants and a growing number of beach bazaars await the tourist. A beautiful stone terrace with carved balcony (^15th-century ensemble) offers an ideal vantage point over the sea. Steps lead down to the rocks below, where you can sunbathe. In winter, the descent is less advisable, firstly because of the cold, but above all because of possible storms, which can prove dangerous. In any case, the caves can be visited by boat, which allows you to benefit from the explanations of a guide. The drivers are charming and attentive, helping women and children to get on board and not hesitating to stop or manoeuvre to take a good photo. To enjoy the richness of their colors, it's best to visit the caves around 11:30 a.m. in summer, when the light is at its best.

The first of the caves is The Cat's Cave. The water is transparent and shallow (5 meters), allowing you to see the rocky bottom and seaweed.

The second cave, Reflection Cave, is so named because the water here reflects phosphorus, as demonstrated by the following little experiment: dip your hand in the water near Reflection Cave and observe it immediately after you've withdrawn it; it will have taken on an unusual bluish hue (unless you're a Smurf...). The entrance to the Blue Grotto is reminiscent of an elephant with a submerged trunk, and offers a glimpse of another cliff. At the bottom, the red coral contrasts superbly with the blue of the sea.

The next grotto is Rotunda (Rotunda), because its rounded ceiling resembles the dome of Mosta's famous church. Here, unlike the other caves, the water bottom is sandy. Further on, the rocky outcrop is reminiscent of a horse's hoof. Guides used to love showing French visitors around this site, as one of the rocks resembled, from a certain angle, General de Gaulle's nose. Today, however, de Gaulle's nose is less familiar to younger generations, and the rock itself has eroded away. Further on, the smooth, golden walls of another grotto evoke those of the hypogeum.

Finally, the Blue-Window Cave offers a view of the azure through its opening.