Just outside the city gate of Valletta lies the Hastings public garden. From here majestic views over Sliema, Floriana, and Manoel Island unfold. The name of the garden comes from the Marquis of Hastings, who was a governor of Malta. He died in 1827 and is buried in the garden.

Valletta, the capital of Malta, was ingeniously constructed in the 16th century by the Knights of St John. Exuding baroque elegance, it is rightfully hailed as an open-air museum due to the number of historic buildings concentrated in the area like St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Grand Harbour, masterfully crafted by the Knights. Within a mere 900m x 630m area, over 25 churches grace the landscape. This remarkable city is an esteemed UNESCO World Heritage Site, a testament to its cultural significance and architectural splendour.

Åsnen was made a national park in March 2018, which means that the nature in the surroundings is unique and of international interest. The national park is about 1,868 hectares large, and 75% of the area is water. The main entrance is situated by the bridge Sunnabron near the narrow that leads to the largest island in Åsnen, Sirkön. Hiking paths leads to Bjurkärr. Bjurkärr has one of Sweden’s most valuable broad-leaved deciduous forests, since it is very rich in species. The bird life is rich and you can find unusual insects, moss and lichen here. The other entrance to the national park is situated by the left shore of Åsnen and near the mountain Trollberget. Here you can find leaflets about the national park and also both broad-leaved deciduous trees and conifer trees such as pine and fir trees. Additionally, there is a shore by the lake and wetland forest, all in the same small area. Some places in the national park have toilets, fire places and resting places. Some have paths marked with different colours and a wooden deck near the lake where you can unpack your basket with Swedish fika and just enjoy the view of Åsnen, with all its lakes and water.