have you ever thought about going to Malta? Me neither, until I took a look at this palace in Rabat (a suburb of Mdina, a walled city that was once the island’s capital — thank you, internet). Let’s take a look at this Mediterranean villa.

Pairing the exposed beams with older-looking stonework is a terrific nod to the history of the island, where Bronze Age cities gave way to ancient Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Goths, Vandals, Sicilians, Normans and eventually, retired Brits.

The providing calls this home the “Palace of the Countess” (though it doesn’t specify which countess) and, checking out these lavender walls and puddled drapes, I’m imagining a Dowager-like figure swanning about its rooms.

Another view of the same beauty parlor shows Caravaggio’s St. Jerome writing (fun fact: the artist fled to Malta and worked there for a few years). though this is the kind of home that could be home to a stellar private collection, the original painting is, alas, in Rome.

Apparently all the new furniture went into this room! (I’m not sure how the violin artwork would really pair with a Caravaggio masterpiece, anyway.) The rest of the house is just as modern, with two offices and five bedrooms, each with an ensuite.

There are no full exterior shots in the listing, but this look has quite the expanse of stucco and glass. If you tire of swimming in your private pool — or kicking back in your private hammam day spa — you can always take a dip in the lots of turquoise bays around the island.

For a lot more Mediterranean inspiration, check out this rental property on Sardinia.

Photo credits:1-5. Wetag Consulting Immobiliare, by means of Christie’s real Estate