The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux is a 17th century palazzo set among bastions and baroque architecture of Mdina. Once home to a noble family, its interiors have been renovated to accommodate discerning travelers in a modern age.
The 17 rooms of Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux offer stunning views of the countryside stretching out to the glimmering Mediterranean. Antique furniture, Parisian fabrics, plush king size beds, and watercolor paintings of scenic Maltese landscapes offer an added historic charm. Rich jewel tones add gentle color to the elegant rooms, each kept intimate and traditional through the renovation. Each space is unique; relax in the Jacuzzis found in four of the rooms, and marvel at the high ceilings that split the sleeping and living quarters in another. Pamper yourself in the marble bathroom, and step out onto the balcony to see this timeless city.
While here, guests are invited to walk down the hallways of polished marble and lined with gold-framed paintings, enjoy a glass of wine in the lounge bar found in the central courtyard, and dine on French, Mediterranean, and Maltese cuisine in De Mondion on the balcony. Meanwhile, the restaurant next door, Trattoria A.D. 1530, offers delicious pizzas served under pretty white umbrella-covered tables, shading you from the Mediterranean sun.
Mdina was Malta’s first capital and its history dates back more than 4,000 years, including links to Biblical stories. It is believed that St. Paul was shipwrecked here and resided in a grotto just outside the city walls. Stand in awe of the serenity of St. Paul’s Cathedral built in the 17th century and adorned with a domed ceiling of painted scenes in red, gold, and blue.
Outside the serenity of the church, palaces line the narrow streets of Mdina and fuchsia bougainvillea tumble down the sides of stone buildings, adding color to this already beautiful place. At night as the moon casts its romantic light over this silent city, Mdina takes on an ethereal glow from the lanterns lighting the way along the ancient streets of this Mediterranean island.
