Maddalena Archipelago

islands, Italy

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The Maddalena Archipelago is a group of islands located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the northeast coast of Sardinia, Italy. The archipelago includes several islands, with Maddalena being the principal one and home to the administrative center, La Maddalena. This port has a significant naval history, having been an important Italian naval station and a base for Horatio Nelson. The U.S. Navy also maintains a facility there for nuclear submarines.1

Another notable island in the archipelago is Caprera, which is connected to Maddalena by a causeway. Caprera is famous as the home and final resting place of the Italian nationalist leader Giuseppe Garibaldi. His house and tomb are now national monuments and tourist attractions. Fishing is a primary economic activity for the islands.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Maddalena Island
…the principal island of the Maddalena Archipelago, which includes the islands of Maddalena, Caprera, Santo Stefano, Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria, and Razzoli. Its port, La Maddalena, is the administrative centre of a commune that includes all the islands. The harbour of La Maddalena was an important Italian naval station until…
Read More
…the principal island of the Maddalena Archipelago, which includes the islands of Maddalena, Caprera, Santo Stefano, Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria, and Razzoli. Its port, La Maddalena, is the administrative centre of a commune that includes all the islands. The harbour of La Maddalena was an important Italian naval station until…
Read More