Princess Elena

In a city full of gems, some large and gaudy, some dulled by time and wear, Princess Elena is a small but brilliant diamond. My partner and I had come to Malta and Valletta for a single night in October 2019. We came in search of Caravaggio. The Princess Elena may very well be the closest we felt to being in his presence. Very centrally located and a short walk from the main bus depot and City Gate, the B&B is stunningly fitted into a 16th century building of the type that the great artist would have known. The rooms are large, with old beamed ceilings, beautiful antique furniture and well-appointed bathrooms. Our room looked out over the street below and its beautiful buildings. Although the room was on the second floor, and there was no elevator, it was truly a privilege to walk up a stone staircase that clearly showed the wear of 500 years of footsteps. Our host, Lena (is she the Princess Elena?), greeted us very warmly on our arrival and saw that we were comfortably settled. Although we were only staying for one night, she made us feel at home. In the morning, she served us coffee and cooked bacon and eggs to order, all in the dining room where there was already a substantial breakfast laid out. As we were catching a flight in the evening, Lena let us leave our luggage at the B&B while we explored Valletta and its harbor, and even gave us a key to the front door so that we could collect our luggage if no one was present to let us in. Our stay at Princess Elena made this short journey to Valletta one we will always treasure.