Exploring the Mysterious Underground Caves

🌟The Shell Grotto, located in the town of Margate, UK, is a magnificent underground passageway adorned with shells. Discovered by chance in 1835, the grotto features a series of claustrophobic rooms and corridors, with walls covered in 4.6 million shells, forming a magical mosaic of strange patterns and symbols. The greatest mystery is that no one knows who built it, why it was built, or what its purpose was—it remains an enigma to this day. 🐚 The walls are paved with bird clams, conches, mussels, scallops, and oysters, forming a jumble of patterns and symbols. This grotto is a treasure trove of imagination, with countless interpretations; the Tree of Life, male and female deities, skeletons, heart shapes, and things that look like altars. 🌟Interestingly, the floor plan of the Shell Grotto resembles a stained glass window in a church or a tombstone. The corridors are punctuated with little hearts (so cute!) and beautifully decorated shell skylights, paired with fresh moss, full of the traces of time, like an ancient dry well. 🌟This also reminds me of the European bone churches, where skeletons are embedded in concrete, sharing a similar artistic vein with the Shell Grotto. Both use decorative symbols to express some sort of mysterious religious spirit, while also containing various metaphors. 🌟There are many ways to express art, and the Shell Grotto is definitely worth a visit! 🤍 Opening Times: Wednesday to Sunday (10:00-17:00) 🤍 Admission: £5 (walk-in) #LondonLife #AroundLondon #LondonHiddenGems #RecommendationsForDayTripsFromLondon #MustVisitMuseums #ShellArt #Museum #Margate #WeekendOutings #Mysticism