Fancy a visit to the centre of the earth while on holiday in Majorca? Then visit the dark and dramatic Caves of Drach near Porto Cristo in north-east Majorca. The four caves link together and are big enough to contain one of the largest underground lakes in the world.
Stalactites dangle from the roofs and a 70ft high stalagmite, which grows from the ground, is called the Queen of Pillars. The caverns were mapped in the late 19th century but were used over many centuries by hermits, pirates, smugglers and as a hiding place from invaders. Now they are the habitat of tourists.
The caves have stunning light and music effects and have become one of the main visitor attractions on Majorca. There are guided tours into the caves that have been named hell, purgatory and paradise.
It’s easy to understand the disputed claim that they were the inspiration behind one of Jules Verne’s most famous stories, Journey to the Centre of the Earth. The author may well have read about the caves and was supposed to have visited Majorca, but there is no record of him ever going to see them.
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