Book to document underground sights

Miranda Publishers are working on two new coffee-table books in the 360° series - Underground Malta and Underwater Malta - aimed at promoting the island from a different perspective, which is equally historically rich.

The fourth and fifth in the series of 360° publications, their major selling point is their photographs that open up across up to six pages.

Miranda marketing director Eddie Aquilina has been researching underground sites for the past 18 months and is impressed with the wealth of architecture that exists below the ground and that, more often than not, goes by unnoticed.

He has already listed 100 sites to be photographed by Enrico Formica and is now facing the embarrassment of the choice. Indeed, Underground Malta could end up consisting of two volumes and possibly a third if his appeal to the Maltese to come forward with any interesting underground sites is fruitful.

Underground Malta aims to unearth the wealth of off-the-beaten-track catacombs, crypts, shelters, hidden caves and tunnels that are rarely visited by tourists and Maltese, apart from the more popular Hypogeum and Ghar Dalam, which are also featuring in the book.

But it is also including underground cellars and basements in private homes, dating back to the time of the knights, as well as underground restaurants, such as Castille Vaults in Valletta and entertainment venues such as the Mdina dungeons.

Mr Aquilina gave as examples the catacombs of St Agatha and St Paul, which are known of but "taken for granted". The Wignacourt Museum in Rabat has early Christian catacombs that date back to the fourth century AD, he said.

The Bir-Mula heritage is a house that has been transformed into a museum and is an example of the development of Maltese homes through the ages, while the wealth in underground Valletta is inestimable, Mr Aquilina said. He listed the "incredible" tunnels under the Inquisitor's Palace, in Siggiewi, among other stunning sites.

Underground Malta, which is to be published later on this year, should further confirm that "Malta is a jewel," he said.

Underwater Malta, on the other hand, is being divided into recreational diving, being one of the top locations in the Mediterranean, wrecks, topography, marine life, fishing and water sports, photographed from under the water by Kurt Arrigo.

Miranda Publishers also intends to tackle museums, temples and the Knights of St John in the 360° format but the two latest books are intended to be smaller than the standard size and less expensive.