If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy streets of Sliema and Valletta, then we have two recommendations for you; Wied Fulija in Żurrieq and Qortin in Xagħra, Gozo.

There is no way you’d guess that these two sites were once landfills, as they have since  been transformed into stretches of green landscape offering uninterrupted panoramic views.

Wied Fulija served as a landfill for 42 years until its closure in 1996. Following a landfill rehabilitation project with a €4.5 million investment that WasteServ completed last year, this area in Żurrieq is today flourishing and bursting with wildlife. Lined with shrubs and trees, this place has become highly sought-after as an area to get away from the rigours of daily life and enjoy a nice stroll with family and friends.

The two waste mounds that still contain around two billion kilogrammes of waste were recontoured at a safe angle, then covered with a subsoil and a topsoil, and revegetated. Around 43,000 trees and shrubs were planted as part of this extensive rehabilitation. A paved pathway, dotted with benches, was also created to allow access to the cliff’s edge.