La Maddalena is 62 islands in one. The archipelago of La Maddalena belongs to Italy and is located near the island of Sardinia in the Tyrrhenian Sea. However, many of the 62 associated islands are uninhabited. La Maddalena is also called the Seychelles of the Mediterranean, which can be explained by the wonderful dream beaches and bays that can be found here. The largest island in the archipelago is called, like the entire archipelago itself, La Maddalena. In addition, there are six other inhabited main islands. If you were on holiday in Sardinia anyway, you should definitely pay a visit to La Maddalena to soak up the natural beauty of the archipelago and relax on the beautiful beaches. La Maddalena can be reached from the northeast of Sardinia. Ferry from Palau to La Maddalena takes only about 20 minutes for the crossing. The frequency of the ferries is excellent, there are up to 80 trips per day during the season.

Explore the main island of La Maddalena

Visitors usually land on the main island of La Maddalena first. Most of the approximately 11,500 inhabitants of the archipelago live here, which is why it is comparatively bustling here. So if you are in the mood for delicious food in a rustic restaurant in addition to relaxation, you should head for the island’s capital in the south of the island, which is also called La Maddalena. Here you can enjoy freshly caught fish in a romantic setting, because the old town of the small town looks like something out of an Italian film. In the evenings, you can take a walk around the harbour, where sailboats alternate with small fishing boats.

The most beautiful beaches of the main island can be found in the north of La Maddalena, because here it is even more lonely than in the already very lonely south. For example, you can relax wonderfully on the Spiaggia Monti D’A Rena beach. The fine sand shimmers here in yellow to ochre colour gradations. The Mediterranean Sea is clear and the landscape all around is characterized by rugged rock sections. If you are only making a day trip to La Maddalena and still don’t want to miss out on a dip in the cool water, the Punta Tegge beach near the island’s capital is recommended. It is more than idyllic, but still within walking distance of the town centre. It also has an excellent infrastructure with beach bars and small restaurants.

Over the bridge to Caprera

The island of Caprera, located to the west of La Maddalena, does not have to be reached by boat, but can be reached via the 600-metre-long Ponte Moneta bridge. There are some historical sights to discover on Caprera, which can be explored as part of a hike. On the main island, tourists can stock up on hiking maps. The hiking trails on Caprera cover the entire island and are well signposted. The Batteria di Punta Rossa is located in the very south of the island. This is an abandoned military complex from the 19th century. The buildings are now very dilapidated. However, if you feel a little adventurous spirit in you, you will make many a discovery here, because the area is freely accessible and can be explored on your own.

There is also the former residence of the Italian freedom fighter Guiseppe Garibaldi to visit. The former home has since been converted into a museum where personal belongings, furniture, clothing and uniforms of Garibaldi and his comrades-in-arms are exhibited. With the Batteria Poggio Rasu Superiore, the island has another former military fortress. This is suitable as a vantage point, because from there visitors can overlook the entire island and look far out over the Mediterranean Sea. Especially in the evening hours, when the sun sets over the sea, this is a real experience. If you want to enjoy even more wonderful views, climb Monte Tejalone.

This viewpoint is freely accessible around the clock. The viewpoint is located at 212 meters above sea level and is accessible by stairs. And a visit to the island is also worthwhile for bird lovers, because it is not only a nature reserve, but also a bird sanctuary. Numerous peregrine falcons, seagulls and cormorants can be found here. Bathing enthusiasts head for the south of the island. For example, the beaches Cala Caprese and Spiaggia del Relitto are recommended. Idyllically situated in a bay is the dream beach Cala Napoletana. This can be found in the northwest of the island and can only be reached on foot via a rocky hiking trail.

What else is there to discover in the La Maddalena Archipelago

The rest of the La Maddalena archipelago is best explored from the water. On the main island of La Maddalena, visitors can rent a motorized inflatable boat that allows them to travel independently from island to island. Of course, you can also join a boat tour, which is offered here in large numbers. The islands of the archipelago are all very wild and natural. On Budelli, the Spiaggia Rosa beach beckons, which has a real peculiarity: its sand shimmers from pink to red. Unfortunately, it can actually only be admired from the water, as it is not allowed to enter the island, but the sight of this natural beauty alone is a highlight of any boat tour around the archipelago. If you want to make a stop for swimming, it is best to do so on Santa Maria, because here the water is particularly clear

Pescara is pretty much right in the middle of the Italian boot. The city, which has just under 120,000 inhabitants, is directly connected to the Adriatic Sea. In Germany, Pescara is mainly known as a holiday destination for beach and sun lovers. But the city has much more to offer than just 20 kilometers of expansive sandy beaches, gelato, pizza and Campari Orange. Pescara has many interesting museums, such as the Museo delle Genti d’Abruzzo, which provides information about the rich historical past of the city.

In addition, the red wine Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, which is known and loved far beyond the borders of Italy, is grown and pressed around Pescara. The best conditions for gourmets, because you can enjoy excellent antipasti and freshly caught fish. In addition, the Pescara Jazz Festival takes place here every year in July and August, where international jazz greats such as Joan Baez perform again and again.

In the midst of locals on the Adriatic beach of Pescara

Pescara is not only very popular with international guests. Local tourists also like to travel here, especially from the capital Rome. That’s why on the beaches of Pescara you often have the feeling of immersing yourself deeply in Italian everyday life, as Italian is usually spoken around you. All the beaches of the seaside resort of Pescara have one thing in common: they have an excellent infrastructure. Bathing loungers are rented, there are changing rooms and showers everywhere and the physical well-being is not neglected between cafés and beach bars. No wonder that Pescara attracts families and older tourists in particular, who appreciate this comfort very much.

The closer the beaches are to the city centre, the better equipped they are with children’s play areas and sports facilities such as volleyball courts or surfing and diving schools. If you like it quieter, you can still travel to Pescara and simply visit one of the beaches a little further away, for example the Spiaggia di Punta Ferruccio, which is located a little south of the city. Here it is relatively lonely to swim below a cliff. As a rule, this enchanted-looking sand and pebble beach is only shared with a few campers. By the way, if you travel to Pescara in August, you often have the opportunity to be sailed across the Adriatic Sea by a real local fisherman on his fishing boat.

Because then there is a fishing ban in Pescara’s fishing grounds and the fishermen use the free time for a small sideline and tourists drive along the coast in their fishing boats. In addition, the great fishermen’s festival takes place in the port and off the coast of Pescara in August, which is a real highlight in the city’s calendar of events.

A visit to Gabriele D’Annunzio, the city’s most famous son

Gabriele D’Annunzio was born in Pescara on March 12, 1863. The writer is still considered the city’s best-known son. In the meantime, a museum has been housed in his honour in his birthplace. On display here are all kinds of personal items from the writer’s possession, such as letters and writing instruments. In addition, when visiting the museum, you can take a journey through time that will take you back to the turn of the century 19. To 20th century, because the building is furnished in the style of that time. There is original furniture and room furnishings as well as clothing and everyday objects of that time to visit.

Small but nice: the Museo delle Genti d’Abruzzo

The Museo delle Genti d’Abruzzo is all about the region where Pescara is based, Abruzzo. It is housed in a former Bourbon prison building. The collection includes archaeological finds from the city area as well as historical everyday objects from a time when Pescara and the surrounding region were still extremely rural. A variety of historical agricultural equipment completes the museum’s interesting collection.

The most important religious buildings in the city: The Basilica of the Madonna dei Sette Dolori and the Cathedral of San Cetteo

As probably in all of Italy, there is a church, basilica or cathedral to visit on every corner in Pescara. The Cathedral di San Cetteo was not built until around 1930, but it is still the most important Catholic church in the city. It is furnished with valuable paintings donated by the prince of poets Gabriele D’Annunzio. The Basilica of the Madonna dei Sette Dolori is dedicated to St. Mary. Here, too, the interior of the basilica, built in the 17th century, is particularly worth seeing. Legend has it that the basilica was built in a holy place. According to legend, an image of Saint Mary was once sighted on the square where the Basilica of the Madonna dei Sette Dolori stands today.

The Museo dell’Ottocento Fondazione Di Persio-Pallotta: a haven of art

All those who are into art and paintings, and especially appreciate landscape painting, should not miss a visit to the Museo dell’Ottocento Fondazione Di Persio-Pallotta when they are in Pescara. The focus of the permanent collection is on paintings, sculptures and drawings from the 19th century. The works of Italian painters and sculptors, such as Vincenzo Caprile, Giuseppe Casciaro and Edoardo Dalbono, are exhibited here. However, there are also some works of art by French artists such as those of Théodore Rousseau, Narcisse Virgilio Diaz de la Pena or Constat Troyon.