La Maddalena Archipelago - Sardinia - Italy

The archipelago of La Maddalena is a town with 11,400 inhabitants and belong to the province of Olbia Tempio in the region of Sardinia (Sardegna). The archipelago consists of 7 islands, La Maddalena, Caprera, Santo Stefano, Budelli, Spargi, Razzoli and Santa Maria and about 60 smaller islets located in the northeastern waters between Sardinia and Corsica.

The entire archipelago is part of the since 1994 protected Natural Park called Parco Nazionale Arcipelago di La Maddalena. The Geo Marine protected area covers well 15000 hectares and 180 km of coastline. The archipelago can be reached from the port city Palau which is situated on the mainland of Sardinia.

The center of the archipelago form the two inhabited islands of La Maddalena and Caprera which are connected through a bridge connected with each other. On these two islands are also tourist facilities like hotels, villas, apartments, campsites, restaurants, bars, pubs, discos, ice cream shops or supermarkets.

On Caprera is situated the so-called Casa Bianca, this is the house of the national hero Giuseppe Garibaldi. Giuseppe Garibaldi died on June 2, 1882 on Caprera his last place of residence. His grave can still be visited there, the Casa Bianca is now a museum in honor of Giuseppe Garibaldi.

The smaller islands Bisce, Nibani, Mortorio and Le Camere that are a little further southeast of the island La Maddalena and also the entire coast of Caprera belong to a nature reserve zone TA where it's not allowed to anchor or to wild. Moreover, no motor sport activities could be done there and any disturb of the flora and fauna in these areas could punished with a fine. It is therefore an advantage if you want to visit the archipelago to hire a skipper who knows the area or before visiting the islands to study carefully and depth the maps if the national park to avoid any damage at the nature reserve and any possible actions against you.

Santo Stefano is partly occupied, on the eastern side there is a base of the U.S. Navy where are stationed atomic submarines of the US Marine. Because of numerous complaints and complain of the Nature Park the U.S. Naval Station will be removed until the end of 2007. On the west coast is a beautiful small bay with a great view over the islet of Roma.

Budelli has an area of 1.6 square kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 87 meters. Budelli is considered as the symbol of the National Park called Parco Nazionale Arcipelago di La Maddalena and as one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean Sea. This island got famous and known by the beach called Spiaggia Rosa, this is a beach section where fragments of red coral and shells tint the coast in a reddish coloration. Also at this coast section it is not allowed to anchor, because also that stretch of beach is a nature conservation area TA and it is located at the southeastern tip of the island.

Spargi has an area of 4.2 square kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 153 meters above sea level. The island is uninhabited but is the home of a variety of bird species and has natural water resources.

Santa Maria has an area of 2 square km and reaches a maximum height of 49 meters on Guardia del Turco. At Santa Maria was a Benedictine monastery dating from 1238 in the 16th century abandoned and has been destroyed for the most part in the 18th century. Today the island is only inhabited by a family.

Razzoli has an area of 1.5 square kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 65 meters and is not inhabited. The island has three beautiful beaches called Cala Noce, Cala Lunga and Cala Cappello.