Quizzical stares are what you’re likely to get if you enquire about a forest in the urban island of Malta. Yet hidden in plain sight are the treasured grounds of Buskett Gardens. So rare is open fauna on Malta that its only real woodland is called Forest Gardens when translated. The placement of gnarled trunks and bent branches are exactly as they were in the 16th Century, silently watching as the land around it morphed with the time. And yet, just as you could 400 years ago, you can still spot plump yellow lemons hanging tantalizingly close from the trees at the entrance. Separate copses of willowy conifers and gaunt Cyprus watch over you as you walk past. There are even patches of cacti to present the full spectrum of Mediterranean fauna to you. Shaded glades form the perfect spot for a picnic with the fairies hidden in the tree hollows.

From any corner of the park, you would be able to spot Verdala Palace. The former military prison is now the summer residency of the Maltese President with its architecture restored to its initial glory, little trace left of its brutal past. Unexpected tranquility and surprisingly low foot traffic make for the perfect stroll around the park and opportunity to admire opulent architecture.