Life in Sardinia is perhaps the best that a man can wish for: 

twenty-four thousand miles of forests, countryside, coasts embedded in a miraculous sea should coincide with what I would recommend to the good God to give us as Paradise.

"Fabrizio De André​"

Life on La Maddalena

Enjoy shopping, aperitifs & great gastronomy

La Maddalena is the main island of the archipelago to which it gives its name and since 1996 it has been Sardinia's first National Park.

The heart of the island of La Maddalena is Piazza Garibaldi, where the town hall offices are located. From here you can reach the historic centre. The main streets are Via Garibaldi and Via Vittorio Emanuele; near the latter is the fishing and tourist port of Cala Gavetta, where Piazza XXIII Febbraio 1793 opens up. Here, a new masterplan signed by world-famous architects such as Rem Koolhaas, Petra Blaisse and Stefano Boeri will soon be implemented, with a new harbour and promenade with lots of greenery and spaces that will add further splendour to the historic centre.

With 11,276 inhabitants, La Maddalena is a typical harbour town with many restaurants and shops that are open even in winter. 

Fascinating and impressive is the historic centre, founded in 1770, with stairs, alleys and cobbled squares which the French call "Little Paris". La Maddalena, well-kept and sun-drenched, is filled with the aroma of myrtle in every corner and the scents of the magnificent sea that surrounds it. 

The cuisine of La Maddalena consists mainly of seafood, but it is linked to the traditional Gallurese cuisine. Among the most prized fish are gilthead sea bream, sea bass, tooth bream and sea bream, not forgetting the more common species such as mullet and bream; seafood also plays an important role in the cuisine, especially sea urchins and mussels, but also sea spiders, squid and octopus, prepared either in salads or fried, and of course spaghetti with bottarga (fish eggs) and arselle (clams). In La Maddalena, not only fish is eaten, but also other traditional Sardinian dishes such as Sardinian gnocchetti with tomato sauce and sausage, roast suckling pig and, to finish, desserts such as the typical desserts of Gallurese cuisine: papassini, seadas and formaggelle.

The feast of the patron saint Santa Maria Maddalena is held every July in Cala Gavetta and is famous for the rich fried fish prepared for the occasion. During the summer months there are events and festivals almost every day.

Caribbean Beaches

The La Maddalena Archipelago, known as the "Caribbean of the Mediterranean", is an explosion of small beaches, coves and creeks and is composed of sixty islands and islets, spread out in the Bocche di Bonifacio, the strait between Sardinia and Corsica. It is famous for its white and fine sandy beaches - protected by pink rocks & herbal plants - with a spectacular crystal clear sea.

The exceptional setting and the color game, 365 days wind and sun, an average temperature of 28°C and 23°C water temperature during the summer period let you feel being in paradise.

Among the most beautiful beaches of La Maddalena and Caprera are : 

CALA COTICCIO, CALA SPALMATORE, PORTO MASSIMO, PUNTA MARGINETTO, PUNTA CANNONE, GIARDINELLI, BASSA TRINITÀ, CALA PUNTA TEGGE, CALA NIDO D'AQUILA, CALA FRANCESE, MONTI D'A RENA, DUE MARI, CALA LUNGA and TESTA DI POLPO. Not to mention the beaches and coves on the islands of Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria that can be reached by boat. There you will find the famous "Spiaggia Rosa" and the "Natural Pools".

Sport & Relax

The Archipelago of La Maddalena belongs to the Street of Bonifacio, the most challenging & scenic aquatic sport area in Europe. La Maddalena has about 60 years of naval tradition and Admiral Nelson named its harbor "the most beautiful harbor in the world“.

Sailing, yachts, scuba diving and windsurfing are the most important sport activities during summer season.

Terrestrial sports like hiking, equestrian, biking and climbing allow you to discover the whole island from different perspectives and are always offering stunning views.

The Golf de Spérone, a European dream Golf course, is half an hour by speed boat from La Maddalena Sea House.

Culture & History

Fortresses & colonial settlements - At the time of the annexation of Sardinia to the Sabaudian region, during the 700th, the landscape was settled by corsic shepherds and fishermen.

In 1803 La Maddalena became the nautic base for the English fleet of Nelson. Known personalities are linked to La Maddalena, from Napoleon to Garibaldi. Garibaldi chose Caprera for the last years of his life. The grave and the museum are retained open as memories for its visitors.

The Naval Archaeological Museum is dedicated to the famous ancient Roman ship wreck with its more than 200 amphorae that sunk near to the Island of Spargi.

The Geo-Mineralogical Museum of Stagnali on Caprera Island has been designed to exhibit specimens of rocks, minerals, fossils, beach sands, seashells, flora and marine fauna. Among the remarkable mineral samples there are giant groups of smoked quartz crystals.