Urban explorer puts hidden Malta on the map
For more than two years, Pierre Farrugia, an outdoor enthusiast, has been exploring the Maltese islands and blogging his adventures. Armed with a backpack and a selfie stick, he went trekking and kayaking along the Maltese coatline and visited a number of natural and historical sights around the islands, where he showed curiosities found only off the beaten track – even not accessible to the the big one, so that they are not ready to rappel. into a hole carved into the cliff just to find out what’s inside… which Farrugia does.
He visited places such as Ras il-Wàx in Mellieħa, Fort Ricasoli, Wied Qirda in Qormi, Munxar in Marsaskala, Qarraba in Mġarr, Delimara in Marsaxlokk and many others.
But this passion for adventure was sparked by a diet plan, which put Farrugia on walks to keep in shape. “At first I was walking on the roads but eventually I realized that it was much more fun to walk along the coast or in the countryside, as the air is fresher and the views are much better.”
When he and his friends started vlogging their kayak trips two years ago, it pushed him to explore more. Now he shares his adventures on his YouTube channel. “I definitely like exploring the underground tunnels and caves we have on the islands. I like the challenge that some places offer and discover remote places that are not easy to reach.”
Inventing with his partner Sharon or his fellow YouTubers Vince Pukka and Angelo Caruana, Farrugia has made inaccessible places his specialty, and he always appears equipped with the right equipment, making it a point to educate his audience about the challenges that some places present and their level of difficulty.
“Some of the treks are doable for everyone but there are others that are definitely not suitable for small children,” said Farrugia. “When exploring caves, one needs to be properly trained and equipped with the right gear for safety. Some of the caves we visited are quite tight and we went down in places by going down. These types of activities require specific training and general knowledge on how to best utilize the equipment safely.”
His favorites include Għar il-Friefet in Birżebbuġa and the pumping station of Mġarr ix-Xini. Għar il-Friefet, near the other known cave of Għar Dalam, is a unique cave with two levels as it is under a building. “The abandoned water pumping station of Mġarr ix-Xini was a challenge as we had to climb 23 meters down its vertical machine shaft. There we found machine parts, a wheelchair, two rooms and a tunnel with a vertical shaft that descends five meters into a gallery full of water.”
Other unhidden gems are Għar ir-Riħ, in the limits of Birżebbuġa, whose entrance is well hidden behind a rock, and Bieb Is-Salvatur in Kalkara, between the demi-bastion of San Lawrenz and s -forts of Our Savior, where there is a tunnel. dug into the ramparts served as the former entrance to the Kiln.
Farrugia says he has been training before embarking on some challenging trips into the caves. “We have many plans in mind and we are currently training and preparing ourselves for a few caves, as these are quite dangerous and require specialized training.”
Hostility from private landowners
But Farrugia also says that he regularly encountered a lot of “bureaucracy” when entering certain areas.
The Public Domain Law of 2016 states that the coastal perimeter, inland waters and seas, seabed and subsoil are automatically in the public domain. The coastal perimeter is defined as land located 15 meters inland from the shoreline. Wherever the shoreline is surrounded by private property, landowners may be required by the government to form a causeway through their land, to allow public access.
Farrugia says that it is private individuals who tend to prohibit passage in these areas. “Sometimes one understands because of the risks involved,” said Farrugia. “Trekking along the coast can be quite a challenge because of certain landowners in Malta in Gozo. The issue is prevalent in all the islands. In my vlogs, I always try to push forward the message that people should be more careful when crossing private property and make sure that no damage is done to the rubble walls or the crops ‘.”
As he surveys all these abandoned historical sites, Farrugia also witnesses the deterioration of this historical heritage. He makes specific reference to Fort Ricasoli in Kalkara, which has regularly served as a backdrop for Hollywood films such as Gladiator and Troy. “I think that Fort Ricasoli does not get the attention it deserves, since parts of its outer walls are crumbling due to sea erosion. Fortunately some places are being restored, however, such a historic place really deserves to be enjoyed in all its glory.”
“Another example is the Fort San Rocco in Kalkara, which unfortunately ended up a victim of vandal acts and was left to be destroyed as well. But a lot of good work is being done by Din l’Art Helwa,” said Farrugia.