La Maddalena

The La Maddalena archipelago runs to sixty islands and islets under strict conservation, which keeps its beaches — Cala Coticcio on Caprera ("Tahiti," reached by a half-hour hike), Cala Francese, the pink sands of Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli, Cala Corsara's granite coves on Spargi — as close to untouched as anywhere in Sardinia. Garibaldi's house, preserved on Caprera, adds history to the geography.

Unlike most of the coast, La Maddalena stays inhabited year-round, with hospitals, supermarkets, and a proper historical centre — a place built for living in, not only visiting.