Sea
The Maddalena archipelago before your eyes: crystal-clear water, granite and blush-pink sands.
RafaelRock
Porto Rafael · Palau · Sardinia
Luxury holiday home in Porto Rafael, facing the La Maddalena archipelago
Coming soon
Freedom
Beaches, boats, granite trails: Gallura at your own pace.
Privacy
A secluded stone house, wrapped in Mediterranean scrub.
Around RafaelRock
Porto Rafael, La Maddalena and Gallura
What to see and how to get around from the house: islands, beaches, boats and the best of north-east Sardinia.
- 01
Porto Rafael
A tiny seaside village a few minutes from Palau, with its famous piazzetta facing the archipelago. Since the 1960s it has drawn artists, sailors and the international jet set in search of beauty and discretion.
- 02
La Maddalena and Caprera
The islands of the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park lie right in front of the house. Ferries from Palau run all day and cross in about 20 minutes; Caprera, linked by a bridge, is home to Garibaldi's house.
- 03
Pink beach and boat trips
Budelli's famous Spiaggia Rosa is protected: you admire it from the boat, without landing. Boat excursions leave daily from Palau and La Maddalena, and you can rent dinghies and boats, some even without a licence.
- 04
Palau and Capo d'Orso
Palau has the harbour, restaurants, shops and the evening passeggiata. Just outside town, the Bear Rock of Capo d'Orso is a granite sculpture shaped by the wind, overlooking the whole archipelago.
- 05
Gallura and Costa Smeralda
Granite, Mediterranean scrub and Vermentino vineyards. Porto Cervo and the Costa Smeralda are about half an hour away by car; Porto Pollo, a windsurf and kitesurf spot, is even closer.
- 06
Getting here
Olbia Costa Smeralda airport is about 45 minutes away, with car hire in the arrivals hall. Ferries to Sardinia dock in Olbia and Golfo Aranci; from Corsica, Bonifacio is linked to Santa Teresa Gallura.
The archipelago
The islands of the La Maddalena archipelago
Seven main islands and more than fifty islets, protected by the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park: from Porto Rafael you can see them and reach them by boat or ferry.
- 01
La Maddalena
The main island, with its old town, harbour and a panoramic road past coves and beaches such as Bassa Trinità. The ferry from Palau takes about 20 minutes.
- 02
Caprera
Linked to La Maddalena by a bridge, it is Garibaldi's island, with his house museum. Pine woods, trails and famous beaches such as Cala Coticcio, Il Relitto and Due Mari.
- 03
Santo Stefano
The island closest to Palau and Porto Rafael, crowned by Fort San Giorgio, with a wide view over the whole archipelago.
- 04
Spargi
Wild and uninhabited, with some of the clearest water in the archipelago at Cala Corsara and Cala Granara. The islet of Spargiotto lies next to it.
- 05
Budelli
Home of the famous Spiaggia Rosa, now protected and admired from the boat. With Razzoli and Santa Maria it encloses the natural pools of Porto della Madonna.
- 06
Razzoli
Tall, wind-carved granite, a lighthouse and small coves such as Cala Lunga. A narrow, shallow channel separates it from Santa Maria.
- 07
Santa Maria
Pale sandy beaches such as Cala Santa Maria and a pond right by the sea, in the northernmost part of the park.
The smaller islets include Spargiotto, Barrettini and Giardinelli, joined to La Maddalena by a strip of sand, plus dozens of granite rocks. Sailing and landing follow the National Park rules.
Questions
Your luxury holiday home in Porto Rafael
Where is RafaelRock?
In Porto Rafael, a seaside village in the municipality of Palau, in Gallura (north-east Sardinia), facing the La Maddalena archipelago.
What kind of stay is it?
A luxury holiday home in stone, secluded and wrapped in Mediterranean scrub, for short and mid-term stays, with service inspired by the best international boutique rentals.
When can I book?
Bookings open soon. Write to info@rafaelrock.com and we will let you know first.
How do I get there?
Olbia Costa Smeralda airport is about 45 minutes away by car, with car hire in the arrivals hall. Ferries to Sardinia arrive in Olbia and Golfo Aranci.
What is there to do nearby?
Boat trips around the La Maddalena archipelago and to the Spiaggia Rosa, the ferry from Palau to La Maddalena and Caprera, Capo d'Orso, and Porto Cervo and the Costa Smeralda about half an hour away.
Is RafaelRock a villa rental in Palau?
Yes. RafaelRock is a holiday villa for rent in Porto Rafael, a seaside hamlet of Palau, ideal if you are looking for a luxury villa in Sardinia close to the Costa Smeralda and the La Maddalena islands.
Can I rent it for a month or longer?
Yes: besides summer holidays, RafaelRock is designed for mid-term rentals of several weeks or months, including spring and autumn, for remote work or a long break by the sea.
Who is it for?
Couples and families looking for privacy, sea and comfort in north-east Sardinia, a few minutes from the beaches of Porto Rafael and the boats to the archipelago.
Would you like to be among RafaelRock's first guests?
Write to us: we'll let you know when bookings open.
info@rafaelrock.com