Valletta for money

With still some weeks to go till spring, I can think of nothing better than a week's city break in the Mediterranean. It's little more than 2 years since I last visited Valletta but such a fascinating city deserves another stay. Luciano's Hotel, which I visited in 2022, lies in the heart of the old city and has a labyrinthine construction in which I go up via the lift and then go down a winding staircase to the room. The view offers a typical city scene, while a short walk reveals the up-and-down nature of the city. No horizontal lines here!

There are countless scenes on the intimate streets, from the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral to shop fronts and cafe society. At golden hour, there's no better activity than sitting in the park above Grand Harbour, marvelling at what the Knights of St. John in the 16th century and the Allies in the 20th, did to repel invading forces.

Valletta is ideal for day excursions. There's a regular ferry across the harbour to the Three Cities. of which Burgu is a satellite town with its own steep staircases. Another ride, possible by bus when the ferry isn't working, is to the modern suburb of Sliema, which is high-rise along the waterfront but has plenty of hidden corners. There's still time for bus rides to the lively town of Marsaxlokk and the very sleepy town of Zejtun, with their magnificent baroque architecture.

But above all, it's Carnival week in Valletta........Read more