East of La Maddalena, it is the second biggest island in the Archipelago. You can reach it both by boat and by land via the bridge that connects it to La Maddalena. Once here, you will lose yourself in a timeless wilderness. Stagnali is the only inhabited area, consisting of a neighborhood with some families’ houses.
Thanks to its pristine nature, Caprera island is also largely known for its history, closely linked to General Giuseppe Garibaldi, as well as for its strategic position on a military level.
Caprera offers a wide range of places worth visiting, starting from the fortifications built in key sites of the island in the first half of the 18th century, up to the museums devoted to Garibaldi. The General spent his last years here, after falling in love with the island when he visited for the first time. He decided to live here, although his presence was not ongoing, and built his house, now a popular museum worth seeing when you get to Caprera.
Click here for the museums’ hours and schedule.
Along the island’s coast, several fortifications were built for military purposes, so as to protect the area. Caprera, and more specifically Candeo, is the perfect example of how man is able to shape a territory with perseverance, respect and passion, according to a peculiar concept of defense: ‘being able to see, without being seen’.
Click here to discover the best fortifications in Caprera.
Caprera is a paradise for people who enjoy spending time immersed in nature, sightseeing and learning history. The network of trails is well-arranged and you will be able to lose yourself in the past while relishing breathtaking views.
Click here to discover the island’s most suggestive trails.
In the southern part of Caprera, you will find Cala Andreani, a mix of wild nature and stunning landscapes. The beach has very fine sand and crystalline waters, from where pink-shaded rocks emerge. It is an easy 15-minute walk from Cala Portese parking lot. When you get to the gate which delimits Punta Rossa, turn on the left and take good care of this fragile natural habitat!
Cala Caprarese is in the northern side of Caprera and you can only reach it on foot, by trail n. 15. It’s one of the wildest beaches in the island, surrounded by uncontaminated nature and thus offering visitors a stunning view. Cala Caprarese is a sort of ‘heaven on Earth’, consisting of three bays crossed by rocks. Here the sand is extremely fine and there are shallow sandy waters, rich in fish species. Facing Cala Caprarese, you will be able to enjoy the view of La Maddalena, precisely Giardinelli.
Cala Napoletana can be reached on foot by trail n. 14, starting from Arbuticci Fort. Besides a big beach, the bay also has two smaller side beaches. Arriving at your destination, you will appreciate an astonishing view: crystal-clear water and Mediterranean scrub frame this awe-inspiring landscape.
Relitto beach is very close to Punta Rossa and is probably one of the most popular sites in Caprera. It’s the ideal location to have a relaxing day with its light blue, transparent waters and fine white sand. On the shore, visitors will be able to see the shell of motorsailer ‘Trebbo’, which caught fire in 1955 off Caprera coastline. The vessel, whose cargo was mainly coal, had left from Savona and was supposed to dock in Cagliari harbour.
Relitto is equipped with facilities allowing access to people with any physical impairment.
Finally, there is Cala Portese, better known as ‘Due Mari’, because here the sea is on both sides: on the right, you have a small beach with amber sand, while on the left, you can see a bigger beach, characterised by white sand and transparent water, surrounded by a thick Mediterranean scrub. Cala Portese is the perfect area for families with kids, since it is easily accessible and has shallow sandy waters.
All the beaches throughout the Park showcase transparent waters thanks to the Mediterranean tapeweed. This seagrass species works in several ways: it entraps suspended sediments, absorbs huge quantities of carbon dioxide, produces oxygen and supplies food and shelter for almost 20-25% of the Mediterranean species.
Just like in Bassa Trinita, in Caprera there are sand dunes of remarkable importance. The Park has decided to protect this fragile ecosystem, by creating a walkway with boardwalks, thus allowing access to bathers, without walking on the dunes so they can enjoy their visit in full respect of nature.
