A national park since 1996, Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena consists of seven main islands and 40 granite islets, as well as several small islands to the south. The seven principal islands are the high points of a valley, now underwater, that once joined Sardinia and Corsica. When the two split into separate islands, waters filled the strait now called the Bocche di Bonifacio. An area of spectacular, windswept seascapes, La Maddalena is best explored by boat, although the two main islands have plenty of charm with their sunbaked ochre buildings, cobbled piazzas and infectious holiday atmosphere.
Over the centuries the prevailing wind, the maestrale (northwesterly wind), has helped to mould the granite into the bizarre natural sculptures that festoon the archipelago.
The area is an important natural habitat, and although national-park status has imposed protection, the ecosystem remains fragile. For this reason, developments are underway to create a joint Italian-French marine park, the Parco Marino Internazionale delle Bocche di Bonifacio (www.pmibb.com) by 2013. Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena has been on the tentative list of Unesco World Heritage Sites since 2006.
