From beaches surrounded by Mediterranean scrub to places linked to Giuseppe Garibaldi: an itinerary through nature, history and the sea to discover the island up close.

During a stay at Park Hotel Cala di Lepre, it is well worth dedicating a day to Caprera. From Palau, La Maddalena can be reached by ferry in about fifteen minutes and, once on the island, you cross the panoramic causeway bridge known as Passo della Moneta, which connects La Maddalena to Caprera, before finding yourself immersed in nature.

Caprera is the second-largest island in the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park and, within its approximately 15 square kilometres, brings together two souls deeply connected to the island’s identity: its natural side, made up of granite, Mediterranean scrub and small bays, and its historical side, linked to the figure of Giuseppe Garibaldi, who chose to spend the final years of his life here.

The roads run through pine forests and Mediterranean scrub, while the trails open out among juniper, mastic, heather and wind-shaped granite. Starting from the south, you reach Punta Rossa and the beauty of Cala Andreani, which is generally less crowded than nearby Spiaggia del Relitto, yet no less captivating. Spiaggia dei Due Mari, on the other hand, owes its name to its distinctive position on a narrow strip of land surrounded by the shifting shades of the Archipelago’s waters.

Continuing north, you arrive at Cala Brigantina, made up of two small coves at the foot of Monte Teialone, a 212-metre-high hill that dominates the island. Cala Coticcio, also known as “Little Tahiti”, has become one of the symbolic places of the Archipelago thanks to its transparent waters and pinkish granite rocks. To protect these particularly fragile environments, land access to Cala Coticcio and Cala Brigantina is regulated and requires visits accompanied by authorised Environmental Hiking Guides. Before planning your day, it is therefore important to check the latest regulations.

Nature was also one of the reasons that convinced Giuseppe Garibaldi to choose Caprera as the place where he would live. He arrived on the island in the second half of the nineteenth century and chose it as his buen retiro. Here he built his home and devoted himself not only to political and military life, but also to agriculture and the care of his estate.

This more private and everyday side of the Hero of Two Worlds, far removed from the images found in history books, emerges during a visit to the Garibaldi Compendium. The famous White House still preserves rooms, furnishings and objects connected to his life. In the garden, there is also the large pine tree planted to mark the birth of his daughter Clelia and, a short distance from the house, the granite tomb where Garibaldi rests.

Before ending the tour, the Dolphin Research Centre is also worth a visit. Established in 2000, it is dedicated to the monitoring, study and research of cetaceans. The waters of the Archipelago are in fact part of the Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals, an area of particular importance for the presence of dolphins and other cetaceans, which you may also happen to spot during an excursion among the islands aboard our boats.