The landscape is rugged granite, with some porphyry. The island is more-or-less circular. The only source of fresh water is rainfall. The coast is marked by coves and sandy beaches. The hinterland is almost impenetrable. Plant life includes Cistus, strawberry tree, juniper and mastic. During the 19th century, Natale Berretta, an alleged bandit, hid on the island and managed to elude searchers. When his name was cleared, he brought his family over and settled down.[1][2][3]
The Spargi wreck is a Roman ship 35m (115ft) dating from c.120 BC, discovered in 1939. It was a cargo vessel, carrying amphorae of wine. Finds from it are conserved in the Nino Lamboglia Museum in La Maddelena.[1][2]
Spargi was garrisoned during both World Wars. Some of the fortifications still remain.[1][2]
The ownership of Spargi was the subject of a lightly-contested court case in 2011. The parties agreed that it was worth €127,000.[4]
Secca di Spargi ('Spargi shoal'; also called Secca Washington) is a recommended and marked-out area for diving. It consists of large blocks of granite together with boulders and landslips, and includes tafoni and depressions. It ranges in depth from 6m (20ft) to 25m (82ft). Fish include grouper, meagre, sea bream and barracuda. The sunlit areas support seaweed; the shady areas are populated by the sponge Aplysina cavernicola (genus Aplysina) and red gorgonians.[5]
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