La Maddalena Island

The island of La Maddalena, the largest of the archipelago, faces Palau, from which it takes a 15-minute ferry ride. Once on the island, lose yourself in the succession of 18th century building, little shops, colourful houses, cafés and restaurants to discover the true soul of La Maddalena. The town is the only inhabited centre in the area and is characterised by a series of intersecting streets and lanes that form a fascinating, colourful village.

Founded in 1770, the city's strategic location in the centre of the Mediterranean has played a crucial role in some important historical events. To name just a few, Admiral Nelson considered it more strategically important than Malta, which led him to stay in the waters of the archipelago for more than a year. In 1793, the history of La Maddalena became intertwined with Napoleon Bonaparte, when he tried unsuccessfully to invade the island. It was Domenico Millelire, commander of the Sardinian fleet, who thwarted Bonaparte's plans.

Must-see/Not to be missed/Don’t miss out 
There are many things to do on the island, but we suggest you put these three at the top of your list.
If you want to immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of La Maddalena and enjoy it to the full, you should definitely take the scenic road, which is about 20 km long and allows you to discover the island from different points. The road skirts some of the most beautiful beaches and takes you to one of the most evocative places on the island: Punta Tegge, facing the island of Spargi.

The Scogliera di Punta Tegge (flat rock cliff), with its lunar charm, is the perfect viewpoint to enjoy an unforgettable sunset. The beaches of Punta Tegge, easily accessible to people with motor disability, thanks to a walkway in the water, also retain their charm. 

The Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, in the historic centre of the town, is an important place for the community of La Maddalena. Valuable objects such as candlesticks and a silver crucifix donated by Admiral Nelson with the coat of arms of Baron George Andreas De Geneys are kept here. The Diocesan Museum is attached to the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena and its main purpose is to preserve the ecclesiastical cultural heritage. 
Another place where you can discover an authentic Maddalena, full of history, is Cala Francese, a place of great historical importance from the mineralogical point of view, but also for the life of the stonecutters, considered true masters in the working of granite. The quarry began its activity in the second half of the 19th century and worked at full capacity until 1930. The engineer Bertlin introduced the quarry to the international level and thanks to his initiative the granite of La Maddalena became famous all over the world.

Beaches
The island of La Maddalena, covered with vegetation typical of the Mediterranean scrub, offers enchanting natural landscapes, with white beaches and coves carved out of the rock, overlooking a crystal-clear sea.

Among the most beautiful beaches is “Capocchia du Purpu”, in Italian Testa di Polpo Octopus’s Head, on the Giardinelli peninsula (connected to La Maddalena by an isthmus) in front of Caprera. The beach owes its name to the presence of a huge natural rock with the characteristic shape of an octopus's head. The beach is characterised by very fine, light-coloured sand, a shallow seabed and exceptionally blue water.

Cala Spalmatore, easily reached by the scenic road, offers an authentic experience, as it is very popular with the locals. The beach is the ideal place on windy days, as it is sheltered from the Mistral (the prevailing wind on the island), thus the sea is always calm and clear.

Spiaggia di Bassa Trinita is another place of fabulous beauty where you can spend a day on the beach. The beach, which can be easily reached by taking a detour from the scenic road, is characterised by white sand, enchanting vegetation, crystal-clear waters and postcard-perfect colours.

The whole area is of great scenic importance due to the presence of sand dunes. In fact, in order to preserve this fragile ecosystem, the Park has created a path of walkways that allow bathers to access the beach without trampling the dune system, in full respect of the surrounding nature.

The Spiaggia Monti d'Arena, also easily accessible from the scenic road, offers clear water and beautiful scenery on windless days. The beach owes its name to the presence of a striking sand dune on a hill on the eastern side. Here, too, there is a walkway that provides access to the water for people with motor disability.