LA MADDALENA ARCHIPELAGO
Maddalena and the 7 sisters
La Maddalena Archipelago consists of 7 islands and it is only possible to get there by boat
La Maddalena Archipelago
The La Maddalena Archipelago is an Italian National Park with a geomarine character located in northern Sardinia consisting of 7 main islands and a multitude of magnificent islets, reefs and rocks. An enchanting place with incredible landscapes and views, known worldwide for its breathtaking beauty.
The Consorzio delle Bocche, with its 3 modern passenger motor vessels, makes daily departures from Santa Teresa Gallura to see the La Maddalena Archipelago. Along the way you can also admire the Bocche di Bonifacio with its white cliffs, a particularly interesting stretch of sea that was the scene of events that marked history.
The Islands of the Archipelago
7 sisters, all with a lovely sea. The 7 main islands that make up the La Maddalena Archipelago are:
La Maddalena
Caprera
Santo Stefano
Spargi
Budelli
Santa Maria
Razzoli
Island of La Maddalena
The island of La Maddalena is certainly the largest among the 7 “sister” islands that make up the Archipelago. The island consists of a pretty town, a seaside village-the village of La Maddalena known as Little Paris. The island has always been very important because of its strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea.
Some of the best-known beaches on La Maddalena Island are:
French Cove
Cala dello Spalmatore
Punta Tegge
Eagle’s Nest Cove
Lower Trinity Beach
Island of Caprera
The island of Caprera is known for hosting Giuseppe Garibaldi, who spent the last years of his life here. Now Garibaldi’s house is a museum open to the public. On the island is the village of Stagnali, a small inhabited settlement.
Some of the best known beaches on Caprera Island are:
Spiaggia del Relitto
Coticcio Cove
Cala Napoletana
Port Palma
Cala Portese
Isola Santo Stefano
Santo Stefano is an enchanting island nestled between Caprera and La Maddalena and is one of the main islands of the Archipelago in terms of its size. It is well known for its rocks and granite quarries present as well as for the presence of buildings of the now defunct U.S. Navy base.
Some of the best-known beaches on St. Stephen’s Island are:
Cala di Villamarina
Sailors’ Beach
Curly cove
Isolotto Roma
Spargi Island
The island of Spargi is characterized by the presence of fortifications that stand out above the sea. Spargi Island’s beaches are famous for being white sandy coves surrounded by majestic granite rocks. On the northwest side of Spargi Island is Spargiotto, an enchanting islet of very high environmental significance.
Some of the best known beaches on Spargi Island are:
Cala Granara
Cala Corsara
Cala Connari
Cala Soraya
Love Cove
Cala Bonifazzinca
The Island of Budelli
Budelli Island is home to the world-famous Spiaggia Rosa, which is now an integral protection zone. Its deep pink color comes from the presence of the remains of microscopic organisms-primarily foraminifera and bryozoans-processed and crumbled by the force of the sea. Access to the Spiaggia Rosa is not allowed; you can only view this magnificent beach from the sea to preserve its delicate ecosystem.
Some of the best known beaches on Budelli Island are:
Spiaggia Rosa
Spiaggia del Cavaliere
Cala Cisternone
Santa Maria Island
Isola Santa Maria is an island with breathtaking beaches and bays that owes its name to the presence of the Benedictine convent of Sancta Maria de Budello from medieval times. Of particular note is the Porto della Madonna, a stretch of sea nestled between the islands of Budelli, Razzoli and precisely Santa Maria.
Some of the best known beaches on Santa Maria Island are:
Cala Santa Maria
Port Madonna
Passo degli Asinelli
Razzoli Island
The island of Razzoli is a wild island where nature is absolutely protagonist. The farthest and wildest of the islands of the Archipelago, which directly overlooks the stretch of sea known as the Bocche di Bonifacio. It is characterized by the presence of an imposing lighthouse dating back to the 1800s.
Some of the best known beaches on Razzoli Island are:
Long Cove
Cala Prima
Ultima Cala
Cala dell’Orto
The National Park
The National Park was established in 1994 in order to implement measures to protect and preserve the area. Another fundamental principle that guided its establishment is the enhancement of the coastal and maritime territory in the northern part of Sardinia.
⟶ If you are interested in the Maddalena Archipelago National Park zoning, you can find it here.
