Villa Maddalena

Villa Maddalena occupies a small granite island in the Maddalena National Park, accessible only by the property's private boat from the port of Palau, a 15-minute crossing. The island - approximately 3 acres of pink granite, wild rosemary, and juniper - is owned entirely by the property, meaning guests have sole access to its three small beaches, its rocky coves, and the crystal-clear water that surrounds it. The house was built in 2018 using materials sourced entirely from Sardinia: pink granite walls, juniper beams, cork insulation, and terracotta tiles from the traditional kilns of Oristano. Solar panels and a desalination plant make the property self-sufficient in energy and water. A backup generator ensures continuity during the rare winter storms that can interrupt the solar supply. Five bedrooms occupy the main house, each oriented to face a different aspect of the archipelago. The master suite faces north toward Corsica; two bedrooms face east toward Caprera, where Garibaldi lived; two face south toward the open Tyrrhenian. All have en-suite bathrooms and direct terrace access. The pool sits at the island's highest point, 20 metres above sea level, with 360-degree views of the archipelago. On clear days, the water surrounding the island transitions from transparent turquoise in the shallows to deep sapphire at the drop-off, creating a natural palette that changes with the angle of the sun throughout the day. The property's fleet includes a 9-metre Itama for day trips around the archipelago and a tender for the daily crossing to Palau. A skipper is on staff full-time. The chef prepares meals using seafood landed at Palau's market and vegetables grown in a small kitchen garden protected from the wind by granite walls.