Trait d’union between Sardinia and Corsica, the archipelago stands out for its unspoiled beauty. Access to the islands and neighboring seas is entirely bound by the regulation of the park of the same name established in 1994 to protect the area. The whole archipelago has jagged coasts and outcropping rocks, which require the utmost caution in navigation, like the intense traffic of boats. Its inhabited center is La Maddalena, born as a fishing village and more recently linked to the activity of the base. NATO military service in Santo Stefano, decommissioned in 2008.