Punta Filetto lighthouse

Punta Filetto Lighthouse sits on the northern tip of Isola Santa Maria, a small island within the La Maddalena archipelago, in the municipality of La Maddalena on the northeastern coast of Sardinia. It is a still-active navigational light overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, facing Barrettinelli di Fuori Lighthouse roughly 1.4 kilometres across the water.

Where exactly is Punta Filetto Lighthouse?

The lighthouse stands at the northernmost point of Isola Santa Maria, one of the smaller islands in the La Maddalena archipelago — a cluster of granite islets scattered between the northeastern tip of Sardinia and Corsica. Its coordinates are approximately 41.2986° N, 9.3841° E. From this spot you get an open view across the channel that separates Santa Maria from its neighbouring islands, and on a clear day you can pick out the shape of Barrettinelli di Fuori Lighthouse on the far side.

How do you get to Isola Santa Maria?

There is no bridge or ferry pier connecting Santa Maria to the mainland of La Maddalena — like most of the archipelago, the island falls within the Arcipelago di La Maddalena National Park, and much of its territory is protected precisely because it has stayed undeveloped. In practice, the only way to reach it is by water: your own boat, a rented dinghy, or one of the organised boat tours that run regularly from the ports of La Maddalena town and nearby Palau. Because the island sits inside a protected marine area, there can be restrictions on anchoring, landing, or moving off marked paths, so it's worth checking current park access rules before setting out.

What will you actually see there?

The lighthouse itself is a modest, working structure — its purpose is to mark the island's northern point for boats navigating the archipelago's channels, not to draw crowds. That quietness is precisely the appeal: pale granite outcrops, dense Mediterranean scrub, and the clear turquoise water that the whole La Maddalena archipelago is known for. From around the lighthouse you can watch sailboats and yachts passing toward Barrettinelli di Fuori and enjoy a level of stillness that's harder to find on the archipelago's more popular beaches. This is a stop for travellers who value a quiet, lightly visited stretch of coastline over built-up tourist infrastructure.

When is the best time to visit?

Since access is by sea only, the window from late spring through early autumn tends to work best, when sea conditions are calmer and boat rentals and tour operators run full schedules. In the height of summer the archipelago gets busy with sailors and visitors from both Sardinia and Corsica, so heading out in the morning or early evening helps you avoid the crowds around the archipelago's best-known bays while catching better light for photographing the lighthouse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Punta Filetto Lighthouse? No — it's an active aid to navigation maintained by the relevant maritime authority, not a visitor site. You view it from the outside, typically from a boat or during a brief stop on the island.

What's the easiest way to reach Isola Santa Maria? Joining a boat tour of the La Maddalena archipelago departing from La Maddalena town or Palau is the simplest option; renting your own boat is an alternative if you hold the right licence.

Is Santa Maria island inhabited? No, it's uninhabited and protected as part of the La Maddalena archipelago's national park, with no permanent tourist facilities.

Is it worth combining with other stops in the archipelago? Yes — most boat tours of La Maddalena cover several islands and coves in a single route, so Punta Filetto Lighthouse is usually seen as one stop within a broader day on the water rather than a standalone destination.