Palau
This small holiday resort is situated in an inlet sheltered from the tramontana wind, looking out over the enchanting La Maddalena Archipelago National Park. Life in the town, founded in the late 19th century, revolves around tourism and the harbour. Summer evenings bustle with night life and events, while during the day, its little coves and beaches attract thousands of visitors. A few kilometres from the town is the enchanting little seaside resort of Porto Rafael, so named for its founder Count Rafael Neville de Berlanga.
La Maddalena Archipelago
La Maddalena Archipelago is an incredible natural and wildlife heritage – 5,000 hectares of land and 13,000 of translucent water protected by the National Park. Maddalena, once a fishing village, is the Archipelago’s main town and Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi is its heart, with a lively array of cafes and restaurants. The nearby island of Caprera is equally charming with the added attraction of the home of the Hero of the Two Worlds, Giuseppe Garibaldi, which is now a museum. The other islands, each with its own special charm, are almost uninhabited. Spargi owes its name to the wild asparagus that covers it in spring. Budelli is famous for its pink sand beach, Razzoli for its high granite cliffs and wild appearance. Santa Maria has few houses, and seagulls, herons and flamingos stop to rest in its pond.
Porto Cervo
Surrounded by some of the beaches considered among the most beautiful in the world, Porto Cervo in Sassari province, is the pearl of the Costa Smeralda. The old port dates back to the 1960s, when H.H. Aga Khan, captivated by the beauty of this stretch of coastline, had a brilliant idea when he decided to buy land in this part of Gallura, and together with the Swiss-French set designer Jacques Couelle, and later assisted by several Italian architects, he brought life to this paradise of elite international tourism. Sea, luxury, celebrities, yachts and night life are the main ingredients of Porto Cervo, a favourite meeting place for the international jet set. Its port is also home to the famous Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the organizer of enthralling races and regattas.