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{{Infobox Italian comune
| name                = La Maddalena
| official_name       = Comune di La Maddalena
| native_name         = La Madalena
| image_skyline       = La Maddalena - Il porto (02).JPG
| imagesize           = 
| image_alt           = 
| image_caption       = 
| image_flag          = Flag of La Maddalena.png
| image_shield        = La Maddalena-Stemma.svg
| shield_alt          = 
| image_map           = 
| map_alt             = 
| map_caption         = 
| pushpin_map         = Italy Sardinia#Italy
| coordinates         = {{coord|41|13|N|09|24|E|display=inline}}
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| region              = [[Sardinia]]
| province            = [[Province of Gallura North-East Sardinia|Gallura North-East Sardinia]]
| frazioni            = Moneta, Stagnali
| mayor_party         = 
| mayor               = Fabio Lai
| area_footnotes      = 
| area_total_km2      = 52.01
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://demo.istat.it/app/?i=D7B&l=it&|title=Bilancio demografico mensile anno 2024|access-date=11 January 2025|language=it}}</ref>
| population_total    = 10538
| population_as_of    = 31 March 2024
| pop_density_footnotes = 
| population_demonym  = Maddalenini
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m         = 27
| saint               = St. [[Mary Magdalene]]
| day                 = July 22
| postal_code         = 07020, 07024
| area_code           = 0789
| website             = {{official website|http://www.comune.lamaddalena.ot.it/on-multi/Home.html}}
| footnotes           = 
}}
'''La Maddalena''' ([[Gallurese language|Gallurese]]: ''Madalena'' or ''La Madalena'', {{langx|sc|Sa Madalena}}) is a town and ''[[comune]]'' located on the islands of the [[Maddalena archipelago]] in the [[Province of Gallura North-East Sardinia]], northern [[Sardinia]], Italy. It is one of [[I Borghi più belli d'Italia]] ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").<ref>{{cite web|url=https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/sardegna/|title=Sardegna|date=10 January 2017 |access-date=1 August 2023|language=it}}</ref>

The main town of the same name is located on the homonymous island.

==Comune==

The La Maddalena comune covers all the territory of the La Maddalena archipelago including the islands: Barrettini, Barettinelli, Bisce, Budelli, Camizie, Cappuccini, Caprera, Chiesa, Colombo, Corcelli, Delle Bocche, Italiani, Le Camere, Nibani, Maddalena, Monaci, Mortorio, Pecora, Piana, Porco, Porro, Presa, Razzoli, Santa Maria, Santo Stefano, Soffi, Spargi and Spargiotto.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.unionegallura.gov.it/it/contenuti/articoli/dettagli/393/ |title=I Nostri Comuni |website=Unione dei Comuni Gallura |language=it |access-date=2019-06-13 |archive-date=2019-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310163929/http://www.unionegallura.gov.it/it/contenuti/articoli/dettagli/393/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Town==
[[File:La Maddalena Plaza.jpg|220px|thumb|''Piazza Comando'' in La Maddalena.]]

La Maddalena is the largest town in the [[Maddalena archipelago]], just {{convert|2|km|0|abbr=off}} from the northeastern shore of Sardinia and sitting in the [[Strait of Bonifacio]], between it and [[Corsica]].

The focal-point of pedestrian activity is around Piazza Umberto I (formerly known as Piazza Comando-the older generation of natives in town still commonly refer to the piazza by its original name). There is an adjacent via (Garibaldi) that connects the port (Banchina Commerciale I) facing the Island of Santo Stefano and Piazza Umberto I with city hall. Via Garibaldi is surrounded by commercial shops, restaurants, and bars.

La Maddalena now derives much of its income from [[tourism]]. The only method of traveling to La Maddalena is by boat, with car ferries travelling from nearby [[Palau, Sardinia|Palau]] in Sardinia.

The natives of La Maddalena speak a [[Corsican language#Sardinia|Sardo-Corsican]] dialect known as ''Maddalenino''.

==Island==
The island of Maddalena has several beaches, including Bassa Trinita and Spalmatore. It is characterized by rocky granitic terrain and has some ancient fortifications.  It is connected by causeway with the nearby island of [[Caprera]], known as the last residence of the Italian revolutionary [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]]. <ref>[https://www.viajarcerdena.com/archipielago-maddalena.php La Maddalena] {{in lang|es}}</ref>

[[File:La Maddalena, Italy.jpg|thumb|180px|The Old Town.]]
[[File:La maddalena Port.JPG|thumb|220px|La Maddalena Port.]]

==History== 
[[File:Ammiragliato (La Maddalena, Italy).jpg|thumb|The seat of the Admiralty.]]
[[File:Scuola Sottufficiali Marina Militare - La Maddalena.jpeg|thumb|Petty Officer School of the Italian Navy.]]
La Maddalena has undergone many name changes: the Romans named it ''Ilva'', ''Fussa'' and ''Bucina'' and in the Middle Ages the island was known as "Bicinara" before being given the name of ''Santa Maria Magdalena'' in the 16th century. After this it finally became known as La Maddalena.

The Maddalena archipelago is known from archaeological evidence to have been occupied in prehistoric times, but its [[recorded history|written history]] begins with the [[Roman Empire]].

After the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]] the islands were completely abandoned until the 12th century, when they were chosen by [[Benedictine]] monks founding small communities there. The islands were the object of a dispute between the Republics of [[Republic of Pisa|Pisa]] and [[republic of Genoa|Genoa]] in the 12th century.

In 1584 all the monasteries on the islands were destroyed by one of the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] raids. In the 17th century shepherds began to bring their flocks to the islands in the winter months.

Its location in the Strait of Bonifacio, through which much maritime traffic must pass, turned the archipelago into a strategic military position. In 1767 it was occupied by the [[House of Savoy|Savoy-Piedmont]]ese. The nucleus of the present town of La Maddalena emerged then.

In 1793 a [[France|French]] expedition, in which [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] took part, unsuccessfully tried to occupy the island. It was the first combat experience of Napoleon Bonaparte. During all the [[Napoleonic Wars]] Admiral [[Horatio Nelson]] used the archipelago of La Maddalena as a base for his fleet in actions against the French.

A base was established here by the Italian {{Lang|it|[[Regia Marina]]}} (Royal Navy) in 1887. In 1943, during World War II, [[Benito Mussolini]] was briefly held prisoner here: his imprisonment took place in [[Villa Webber]] from 7 to 27 August.

The former Naval Arsenal at the Moneta locality was planned to host the [[35th G8 Summit]] in 2009, which later was moved to [[L'Aquila]].<ref name=lamiasardegna>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lamiasardegna.it/lamaddalenaisole.htm |title=Arcipelago de La Maddalena |last=de Tisi  |first=Claudio |website=La mia Sardegna |access-date=2019-06-17}}</ref>

==Twin towns==
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Ajaccio]], [[France]]
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nice]], [[France]]

==See also==
* [[List of islands of Italy]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20021213205532/http://italiantourism.com/island2a.html The Italian Tourist Board]}}
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nelson/gallery7/ The British National Archives]
*[http://www.parks.it/parco.nazionale.arcip.maddalena/Epar.html Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena]
*[http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/battles/c_maddalena.html The Napoleon Series]
*[http://www.lamaddalenapark.it/parco-generale.php3 Arcipelago di La Maddalena National Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020044306/http://www.lamaddalenapark.it/parco-generale.php3 |date=2008-10-20 }}

{{Portalbar|Geography|Islands|Italy}}
{{Maddalena archipelago}}
{{Province of Gallura North-East Sardinia}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maddalena}}
[[Category:Cities and towns in Sardinia]]
[[Category:Islands of Sardinia]]
[[Category:Borghi più belli d'Italia]]