Andres Canto, now 20, began digging a subterranean hideaway in his parents' garden in La Romana, Spain, after a row at age 14. The argument erupted when his parents forbade him from walking to the local village in a tracksuit. Furious, he vented his anger by hacking at the ground with his grandfather's pickaxe.
What started as a sulky act of rebellion turned into a six-year project. By 2021, Canto had carved out a den complete with a lounge and bedroom, accessed via steps hewn into the soil. He worked on it several days a week, often with a friend using a pneumatic drill, dedicating up to 14 hours weekly to excavate nearly 10 feet below the surface.
The design was dictated by obstacles such as large stones, which could be frustrating after hours of digging. Initially, earth was hauled out manually with buckets, but as he dug deeper, Canto researched proper excavation methods and engineered a pulley mechanism. He secured the chambers with arched doorways and vaulted roofs supported by reinforced pillars to prevent cave-ins. The entire venture cost him just £43 (€50).
The underground space now features two chambers, heating, Wi-Fi via mobile signal from the cave opening, and audio equipment. Canto, now an actor, said: 'It's great, I have everything I need. It can be tiring to work here as it is wet and there is not much air going around, but I have found my own motivation to keep on digging every day.' He plans further enhancements.
