Palau and the Maddalena archipelago

Back in 1887, Giuseppe Garibaldi welcomed engineer Stefano Pullino on Caprera to trial an experimental telegraph antenna, a curious prelude to Sardinia’s later radio era. That little‑known footnote enriches a visit to the stark white farmhouse where the “Hero of Two Worlds” lived and is buried. From Porto Cervo, it’s about 40 minutes to Palau along the SP59 and SS125, past wind‑carved granite outcrops, before the Maddalena Archipelago opens with park‑protected coves: glassy Cala Coticcio, the safeguarded pink sands of Budelli, and wide Bassa Trinita.

Logistics stay effortless: hotel pickup in Porto Cervo, a cooled Mercedes and bottled water, and a dedicated driver who keeps the day running while you explore. Morning run to Palau, help at the ferry, then a 20‑minute hop to La Maddalena as your driver aligns the return. Tour the Garibaldi Compendium, linger over fritto di paranza by the quay, and range across Caprera; he waits on the Sardinian side and meets you at the dock for a scenic coastal ride back via Cannigione and Baja Sardinia.