Cala Macchione dei Bovi

Cala Macchione dei Bovi is a secluded bay tucked into the rugged coastline of La Maddalena, where the crystalline turquoise water and wild granite scenery make it feel a world away from the busier spots nearby. The name hints at its pastoral past — 'macchione dei bovi' refers to the scrubland once used for grazing oxen — and that unspoiled, back-of-beyond character still defines the place today. You'll need to earn it a little, either by boat or a trek through the maquis, but the lack of facilities and crowds is exactly the point.