The Xara Palace Relais & Chateau has just been named Malta’s Leading Boutique Hotel and, after tasting the unique experience it offers, Fiona Galea Debono does not find it hard to understand why.

Play lord and lady as you dine by candlelight on the terrace.

Even though we live on a tiny island, the Maltese still appreciate the weekend break that stays local, usually involving a trip to Gozo to feel as though we are really getting away. That ferry crossing does seem to do the trick and trigger the brain into holiday and relaxation mode, giving the impression that we have really left the world as we know it, with all its stress, behind us.

But a short escape can also mean really staying local and can be achieved through a relatively short drive to another town and confinement in a resort that is equipped with the necessary amenities to allow you once again to forget the outside world. It’s normally about staying on the property, because the moment you venture out into familiar territory, it gets too close for comfort and you may as well have stayed at home.

The idea is to pick a property that is as geographically distant and different from what you are acquainted with and enjoy its beach, pool, sports, gym and spa facilities to feel as though you are truly cut off.

But there are other weekend-break options out there on the tiny island of Malta and they can offer an even more unique and exhilarating experience, especially if approached with the right frame of mind – that of a tourist on a short journey of discovery.

It’s the discovery of what you thought you already knew so well that adds to the thrill. And that sense of adventure and the willingness to soak it all up can only come with packing a weekend bag and checking into a hotel that has a somewhat unique offer – beyond the beach and spa – for the night.

That experience is even more exciting if the boutique hotel of choice happens to be located in the evocative Silent City, with an atmosphere that is replete with culture and history.

The moment you park outside Mdina and wheel your weekend bag over its moat, through the gate and along the cobbled streets to the Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux, recently named Malta’s Leading Boutique Hotel at the World Travel Awards you feel you have entered another world and it does not take too much imagination to immerse yourself in your medieval surroundings, play the tourist in your own country and view everything with a fresh, inspired and inquisitive eye.

A boutique hotel is generally defined as containing luxury facilities in unique and intimate settings, with full service accommodations, furnished in a themed, stylish and aspirational manner, away from the large hotels. So it’s not surprising that The Xara Palace Relais & Chateau has earned the prestigious accolade.

Entering the exquisitely refurbished 17th-century palace, enjoying a chill-out drink in the lobby, ensconced in a bright courtyard, and checking into the presidential suite, with its attention to detail, transport you even deeper into the dream, and you already feel that while time is standing still here, your much-needed getaway is going to fly by.

Grandeur, history and art ooze out of every nook and cranny, but by no means is it intimidating, or alienating. The ambience is so still, you could be alone in the palazzo; it feels like it is yours for the night and you can play the lord and lady.

For a moment, you think you are in Rome, or some European walled city... but Mdina does not have to imitate any other medieval town to be intriguing

A peep through the shutters of the suite unveils hints of intricate stonework, and when they are flung open, you can emerge on to a balcony that overlooks the intimate square, Vilhena Palace across, the whispers from the Trattoria AD 1530 below.

And for a moment, you think you are in Rome, or some European walled city...

But Mdina does not have to imitate any other medieval town to be intriguing. It can just be itself. And we set out to explore and absorb with a fresh eye, its sights and sounds, stopping to listen, enthralled, to the faceless chanting of hymns that emanate from an empty chapel; popping into the souvenir shops and almost falling into the temptation of buying a memento; peering over the bastions to take in a panoramic view that has been captured countless times, but feels like the first; taking photos against the backdrop of imposing, majestic, colourful doors; getting lost in winding blind alleys; walking through the preened moat to get a feel for it all from below; and even taking a sneak peek at a wedding ceremony that is underway, adding to the charm of the romatic city.

Being able to return to the suite at The Xara Palace, rather than break the spell and go back to reality, is what actually allows you to get into the mood in the first place. The duplex is not only grand, but also comfortable, warm and welcoming, with all the mod cons, camouflaged by plush antiques, and overlooking spectacular architectural views.

And nothing beats being able to simply walk up a flight of stairs for an experience of a lifetime that gourmet dining at The de Mondion Restaurant always is, and only needing to take a few steps back down to your bed after a lusciously long-drawn-out meal that is a feast of the senses.

With the island at your feet, and fireworks going off in the distance, all you need to do is enjoy the impeccable service and savour the explosion of tastes as you bite into a trio of melt-in-the-mouth foie gras, a pasta bag filled with red prawns and sea urchin, a Valhrona bitter chocolate coulant with a coffee centre, with mint and lime ice cream...

Day breaks, and there would seem so much more to do in the city you have visited so many times before. The band is playing and the scouts are marching, Mass is being said at the Mdina Cathedral and the feast of the senses continues.

Had there been more time, neighbouring Rabat could also have been on the itinerary, or we would have simply enjoyed the room a while longer. But alas, that is what a weekend break is all about – in this case, one night in Mdina.