Guide to La Maddalena

Dotted in the blue waters between Corsica and Sardinia are the seven large islands (La Maddalena, Caprera, Budelli, Santo Stefano, Santa Maria, Spargi, Razzoli) and 55 tiny isolotti that make up La Maddalena. They are home to some of the best beaches, clearest waters and most beautiful landscapes in Italy, creating a paradise setting for a Mediterranean luxury charter yacht vacation.

La Maddalena is the main island of the group and where the majority of the archipelago’s 10,000 permanent inhabitants live. The presence of large NATO navy base here until 2008 has meant that the island group has not historically leaned on tourism to support its economy, owing to its quieter, untouched shores. This also means that there are only a few small hotels, pensionis and modest resorts mainly tailored to visiting Italians. So while it has remained relatively unknown to wider tourism, it has long been popular with the yachting crowd making their summer visits to the Costa Smerelda.

The La Maddalena island has a distinctly Mediterranean character in its weathered, pastel-hued buildings and pretty port - but its surroundings seem more akin to a Caribbean island. The terrain is rocky and the coastline includes some beautiful white sand beaches, and the town itself hosts a number of ancient ruins and fortifications. Simple but effective, one if the island’s main attractions is its Strada Panoramica is a 12 mile panoramic road that runs around the island, giving you spectacular views in all directions whether you’re in a top-down convertible or a bicycle.

Whether you’re taking a tour by sea of the Costa Smeralda or the La Maddalena archipelago, a charter itinerary in these waters combines wild natural beauty with history, culture and cuisine. To decide on your perfect superyacht vacation, take a look at the full selection of Sardinia crewed charter yachts available.