Published on: 13 December 2016  | Last updated: 23 December 2019

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Route description

La Maddalena national park

The ferry crossing to La Maddalena takes about 20 minutes. Allow a bit of time for loading. The main ferry company is Delcomar . The ferries run every half hour on the half-hour (Delcomar Palau-La Maddalena ferry times). A return ticket for one person and a bike was 12.90€.

After the ferry docks in the port of La Maddalena, turn right along the lungomare —note that this is made up of basalt blocks so going is a little bit rough, but you could always opt to ride on the pavement if you need to. From here follow the waterside, passing a big naval base/college for naval cadets. La Maddalena has more of the feel of a naval port town than a tourist resort. From here you to head over the narrow causeway to the island of Caprera and on towards the Museo Garibaldino on a road through a pineta (pine woodland).

There are two museums on the island. One is the Compendio Garibaldino and the other is the Memoriale di Giuseppe Garibaldi. A ticket for both costs you €10.

The Museo Garibaldino is the farm where Garibaldi lived for the last years of his life, and where he is buried, along with members of his family. The farmhouse and grounds are very attractive, but unless you have a particular interest in Garibaldi you may not find much of interest here. In fact, even if you are inter­ested in Garibaldi there isn’t actually very much that’s inform­ative here: there are bath chairs, and other bits and pieces.

The Memoriale di Giuseppe Garibaldi is housed in a restored fortress (the Batteria Arbatucci), built to defend the arsenal and naval base at La Maddalena. The museum itself is probably only worth visiting if you speak very good Italian, but the fortress is worth the price of entry ticket in its own is right. The views are fantastic and you can see as far as Corsica. There’s also a beautiful ride there and back. 

You need to cross back over the causeway to pick up the strada panor­amica around the island: turn right following the panor­amica signs. Further on, when you see the second set of signs for Guardia Vecchia, bear right and then further on right again, following the signs for the Cala Francese. As you reach the top of the climb there’s is a fantastic view with the port below you and then coastal archipelago. The descent from the top of the climb down towards the Cala Francese is just superb.

Coming off the ferry when you arrive at La Maddalena, traffic is directed to the right to make a detour using the one-way system. The quickest option is probably to walk with your bike for 30 metres or so and then continue along the quayside.

Articles in this series

• Sardegna North Coast: Introduction
• Sardegna North Coast: Part 1: Olbia to Palau
• La Maddalena national park
• Sardegna North Coast: Part 3: Palau to Castelsardo
• Sardegna North Coast: Part 4: Castelsardo to Stintino
• Sardegna North Coast: Part 5: Stintino to Alghero