The Xara Palace is a small Relais & Chateaux hotel set within a converted 17th-century palazzo, and the only hotel inside the walls of Mdina, Malta’s fortified Silent City. Built atop centuries-old bastions, it has just 17 individually designed rooms and suites, several with panoramic views over the countryside, giving an intimate, residential feel. Dining is a highlight, led by the de Mondion, a Michelin-starred restaurant serving modern Mediterranean cooking on a panoramic terrace atop the bastions, with the Medina restaurant and the Trattoria AD 1530 for more relaxed meals, plus private dining. There is no spa, and the experience is about history, views and food rather than resort facilities. It suits couples and culture-focused travellers who want a romantic, atmospheric base inside one of Malta’s most historic places.