Plan your 2022 holiday in Caprera, in Sardinia, Italy! Find useful tourist information about Caprera and the surrounding area, to help you to organise a truly memorable experience. Discover the best things to do, must-sees in the vicinity, and choose your ideal holiday accommodation in Caprera. Check destination ports and airports, including distances. Plan your next holiday, book online and find the very best prices for you, your family and friends on Sardegna.com! For assistance and advice, please contact our expert, multilingual personnel, specialised in Sardinia, who will be happy to help you find the perfect solution, at no extra cost. Buon viaggio!
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.
The Garibaldi Museum
Consisting of Garibaldi's "white house", the museum includes a group of buildings wanted by the hero. It all began in 1856, when he decided to settle down on the island. Among the conserved relics on exhibition, are his wheelchair, sabres, flags and medals. Visitors can admire Garibaldi's bedroom, his children's room, the kitchen and the living room with all its domestic tools, including the candlesticks made by the hero together with Meucci, during his stay in America. You'll also find the original furniture, paintings, the wheelchair given to him by Queen Margaret of Savoy, portraits and Garibaldi's bed still standing on the point where he asked to be set in order to watch the sea before dying. In front of the house is a bust of the hero made in 1883, the windmill and the oil mill.
Going down a narrow alley, you'll arrive at the family vault and the boats the General used during his stay in Caprera.
Up until 1959, Clelia Garibaldi, Garibaldi's last daughter, was the house's tourist guide.
Opening hours are : 9 am - 2pm and 9 am - 1 pm (holidays)
The visit is free the first Sunday of June, August 15th and December 25th. Closed Mondays.
The sailing centre
Caprera offers one of the most sough-after centres for those who want to learn the art of sailing. Pupils come from all over the world and are trained during full-time courses. They have to respect quite strict rules and hours and have to live a shared life in the centre.
Excursions
It's possible to take a trip around the island aboard little ferries and other private boats stopping at Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria, Razzoli and Caprera. The trip is extraordinarily charming and includes a few stops on the beaches.
