We joined 200 other music lovers on Martin Randall Travel's music festival in Valletta, "Handel in Malta"
Handel never actually went to Malta. although he got close in Sicily. However, the Renaissance city of Valletta was being transformed into a High Baroque city during Handel's lifetime, and it is the perfect venue for his music.
The attraction of Malta to all the civilisations that have occupied it for at least 8,000 years is its magnificent sheltered defensible deep water harbour. The golden limestone island rises steeply out of the azure sea and was heavily fortified first by the Knights of Malta and then by the British Navy.
Ferries and "gondolas" ply back and forth across the Grand Harbour from the "new" city of Valletta to the ancient "Three Cities" thronged with yachts and restaurants.
In addition to the super-yachts and the thousands of more normal size yachts, the harbour is deep enough for the largest cruise ships which can moor against the city wall. These are the Silver Whisper, MSC World Europa and MSC Magnifica.
The main tourist attraction in Valletta is the Cathedral of St John, which was built as an austere monastery church. However, the interior is now a riot of Baroque gold, tombs, marble tombstones and sculptures. The cathedral's pride and joy is its Caravaggio, the "Beheading of John the Baptist". Caravaggio was consecrated as a Knight of Malta after he fled Rome having murdering a man. However he hadn't been in Malta long when his violence caused him to be defrocked and imprisoned. He escaped but died trying to reach Pisa.
Casa Rocca Piccola is an aristocratic palace deep in the heart of Valletta which has been in the same family for many generations but is now also open to the public. It gives a good idea of the life of the aristocracy over the past few centuries, complete with parrot in the inner courtyard.
The streets are full of colour and interesting detail: the ceiling of Teatro Manoel, with an actor outside the theatre entertaining visitors, elaborate door knockers, statues of saints on street corners, party streets thronged with revellers, and Christmas lights.
The entrance and exit of the city is dominated by the Triton Fountain.
