Caprera is part of the La Maddalena archipelago, situated on the north-eastern end of Sardinia. It's linked to the mainland by a bridge. It has been declared a Wildlife Sanctuary and therefore is protected by strict building restrictions.
Caprera can be reached from La Maddalena by boat. In the summer, the municipality restricts the number of cars admitted to the area, in order to limit to very intense traffic.
Giuseppe Garibaldi, the unforgettable hero of the Risorgimento, spent his last days on this small island and ordered that his ashes be buried here in a rough granite tomb. On this small island, you can still visit Garibaldi's house, boats and numerous personal belongings. They are kept in a museum, among the most well-known and visited in the world. They say that, before dying the 2nd of June 1882 at 6.20 pm, as indicated on the calendar and by the clock still present on the wall, Garibaldi asked to watch the sea for one last time. Perhaps his last thought was that paradise is not very different from this beloved island.
A century later, the archipelago has become a sought-after destination for the tourism industry. Unfortunately, Caprera has had to deal with fire; in fact part of the wonderful pine wood surrounding Garibaldi's house was destroyed by arsonists. However, the hero's last place of residence still keeps its extraordinary and evocative powers.
Today Caprera is no longer an island. The Passo della Moneta is a sort of bridge linking Caprera to Maddalena, from where you'll enjoy a magnificent view.
The tourist attractions are numerous: the tops of Mount Teialone and Poggio Stefano are just an example, surrounded by pink granite rocks that outline wonderful scenery.
On the other hand, Cala Coticcio is small and narrow and similar to a fjord. Its shallow waters are a mixture of sand and rocks. To the north you'll find wild scenery offered by the Messa del Cervo, and in the south that offered by Cala Brigantina, both sought-after destinations for tourism, especially in the summer. Beginning with the names, everything here reminds of old legends, past shipwrecks and naval battles. Down in the sandy water it's quite usual to find wrecks from different ages, little treasures mixed with the sea's vegetation.
In the southern area, Punta Rossa is accessible by a little road, passing near the beaches of Cala Portese and admiring the view offered by Porto Palma and the Porco island, both dominated by the Fico mountain.
Now in Cala Garibaldi, the hero's landing place used to reach his house, there is a Club Mediterranee resort village.
All along the north-western coastline, there are views of extraordinary beauty, most of them not reachable from the mainland, such as Cala Napoletana and Cala Caprese. The purity and the transparency of these waters is incredible and a visit of the hidden inlets by boat is amazing.
Caprera offers a rich range of wonders, enjoyable not only during the summer. In the autumn and winter, thanks to the mild climate, the archipelago offers exciting snapshots.
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