We are at the north east end of Sardinia, in that stretch of coast facing Bocche di San Bonifacio, towards Corsica and the Marine Park of La Maddalena Archipelagos, dotted by thousands of charming little isles and islets, reflecting themselves on a dream sea. From Olbia the S.S. 125 takes you, after about 40 km, to Palau, an important port and tourist destination, with its charming little port, Via Nazionale, always crowded in summer, with shops, cafes, and beautiful buildings, and wonderful sights offered by the coast and its surroundings, such as the Colle di Baragge at the shoulders of the town, from where you can enjoy the beautiful view on the coast and its islands. Palau has always been the natural link with La Maddalena isle, through a ferryboat line born in the XIX century.
La Maddalena is an unique island, which reflects the special identity of its inhabitants, proud of their history ad their life style, gathered around the little town located on the southern coast. The rest of this rolling plateau is covered by the Mediterranean vegetation, granite rock and bordered by little bays.
A narrow little bridge links La Maddalena to another island, Caprera where the only paved road leads to Garibaldi’s house and the rest are tracks leading to look-out points and hidden bays. It is a natural reservation where you can easily meet wild bores. Nature and again nature!
It’s now time to get on a boat for an excursion among the main smaller isle: Santo Stefano, the nearest to the Sardinian Coast, Spargi¸ west of La Maddalena, Budelli, the best known for its pink beach; Razzoli and Santa Maria more to the north.
Back on the mainland, from Palau the S.S. B3 takes you to another of the most famous locations of Sardinia, Santa Teresa Di Gallura, situated on a promontory protruding into Bocche di San Bonifacio. Once a fishermen village founded in the XIX century, today it is a well known tourist centre thanks to its beautiful beaches, among which you can find Rena Bianca right past the last houses of the town, its majestic Torre di Longosardo, the tourist port and the port from which you can take a ferry-boat to Bonifacio, Corsica and La Maddalena. Along its stretch of coast there are some granite caves from roman and medieval age and to the east lies the beautiful Marmorata Beach.