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Archipelago Maddalena
Just off the north-easternmost tip of the island lies the stunning Archipelago di La Maddalena. The archipelago consists of 62 islands, all of them dominated by the for the area typical formations of mostly round rocks. In between these often lie beautiful sandy beaches. The combination of bigger and smaller islands, bays, sometimes fantastic wonderworlds of rocks and the beaches of the archipelago makes it one of the most beautiful areas of this part of the Mediterranean Sea.
The biggest Island Isola Maddalena host the only town on the archipelago also named Maddalena. It was founded in the late 18th century, when one of the many conquerors of Sardinia founded a couple of fortresses around the island to secure control over the strategically important archipelago. In the centuries before there were periods of human settlements on the islands dating back to the Romans but after these left, it was uninhabited for centuries.
Nowadays Maddalena is – at least during the tourist season – a bustling town with an abundance of restaurants, cafes and bars mainly concentrated at the area around the harbour. A small ferry is running half-hourly from Palau to Maddalena. Thanks to the shelter of the two main islands the short crossing leads through protected waters and offers great vistas on the archipelago and the mainland.
In summer it might get difficult to get a place on the ferry but for day trips a car isnīt really needed. Much better to take a bicycle to explore the islands. There arenīt many roads on the island anyway, and parking place is very sparce. On Isola Maddalena one country road circles the island winding through the hills and at parts along the coast and gets you near the most prominent landmarks and beaches, but for direct access and many more secluded bays a bicycle is the much better option.
A dam connects Maddalena with the evenly, if not even more beautiful Isola Caprera. You wonīt get far there with a car as the island is mostly a nature reserve and some of its most beautiful parts can only reached by bicycle or hiking. Some fantastic rock landscapes and paradisiac bays and beaches are very well worth the effort.
Make sure to bring enough time and in summer plenty of water if you want to explore the many beauties of Maddalena and Caprera as the combined distances and some short but steep ascents can sum up to a veritable bicycle tour of a few hours, stops for a swim at one of the beautiful bays not included.
The archipelago is also a paradise for sailing and during summer many boats are roaming it this way having access to many bays and islands that otherwise canīt be reached. Some sailing skills are needed though as navigation in between the islands and islets and rocky reefs is nothing for the unexperienced.
For more visual impressions check the galleries (1986 and 2006, 2017)
Related stories: Me(d)thadone EP 7 – Fun Days, Bella Italia, Sardegna 1986
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