Other places in Malta

Bugibba Island of Gozo Marsascala Mellieha Naxxar Rabat Sliema Valletta Zejtun

Waking up the island's ghosts

From the Daily Mail
There we were, dining quietly on the roof terrace of our hotel - the elegant 17th-century Xara Palace built into the medieval bastions of Mdina, the walled city which once dominated Malta. Far below, lights twinkled in villages scattered across the plain running down to the sea. You could almost hear the silence.
Suddenly all hell broke loose. There were almighty explosions and bursts of smoke. Rockets zoomed into the sky and burst into flowers of colour and light. Was this another invasion to parallel the attack of 1429 by 18,000 Saracens who landed unexpectedly, besieged Mdina and were turned back only after St Paul appeared on the city walls riding a white horse to rally the Norman forces?
Not so, said my hosts Joe and Susan Zammit Tabona. 'It is just another fishing village festival celebrating the name day of its local saint with fireworks and a procession. Bit noisy, but charming from here, don't you think?'
Welcome to the hotel Xara Palace, recently restored with great sensitivity to provide 17 luxury suites, many with open-air whirlpool baths on their terraces. For generations the palazzo had belonged to Susan's family. Then it was sold and eventually became semi-derelict.
She persuaded her husband, an accountant by trade, to buy it back and turn it into one of those fashionable retreats for honeymooners and holidaymakers who want to separate themselves a little from the hurly-burly of Valetta, one of the world's most spectacular ports.

Read more in our destination guide to Malta.