Less than three hours from London, yet virtually unknown in the English-speaking world, Algiers is one of the Mediterranean’s most mesmerising cities, a captivating m�lange of faded French grandeur and neo-Moorish folly crowned by a legendary casbah.

Were “Alger La Blanche” situated on the northern edge of the Mediterranean, this dazzling euphony of blue and white would be one of Europe’s most sought after destinations.

A lived-in, weather-warmed city, the Algerian capital is home to some of the most exuberant, playful art deco architecture anywhere in the world. Yet the boulevards of this Mediterranean Paris are also lined with mosques and minarets, notably the 17th century Fishermen’s Mosque, as well as neo-Moorish delights such as the Grande Poste.

The casbah of Algiers remains one of the world’s most mythical labyrinths: “a masterpiece of architecture and town planning” according to Le Corbusier, the casbah’s huddled houses tumble down the hill-side before seemingly spilling over into the sea.

Algiers receives virtually no Western visitors: one has the sense of being a privileged guest in one of the Mediterranean’s most historic cities.

Although the infrastructure in Algiers far from matches European or American standards, the city has a series of charming hotels, including the art deco Safir overlooking the port and, high above the bay of Algiers, the St George with its luxuriant gardens.