Discover Oristano: Culture, Coast and Holiday Apartment

Oristano combines museums, historic buildings and Sardinian traditions with destinations for excursions by the sea. The city and its wider surroundings tell of medieval rulers, sacred art, archaeological cultures and an equestrian tradition that is still carefully preserved today. At the same time, the places described lead to thermal baths, hiking opportunities in the Sinis area, a flat granite island and the wide beach of Torregrande.

Culture

The Museo Archeologico Antiquarium Arborense has been housed in the 19th-century Palazzo Parpaglia since 1992. Among other things, it displays the 15th-century Retablo di San Martino. The equestrian tradition of Sa Sartiglia is presented in an interactive and multimedia exhibition at the Centro di Documentazione sulla Sartiglia; during Sa Sartiglia, riders try to hit a star-shaped target.

The Casa Museo Antonio Gramsci is located in Ghilarza, in the house where Antonio Gramsci lived from 1898 to 1911. The exhibition there enables visitors to explore Antonio Gramsci’s life through documents, photographs, objects and personal accounts. At the Pinacoteca Carlo Contini, the collection includes a section featuring the art collection of the municipality of Oristano. The Pinacoteca is currently temporarily closed due to exhibition work. The Museo Diocesano Arborense displays a permanent collection of sacred art owned by the archdiocese.

History

The Santa Chiara monastery complex was built in 1343 under King Peter III of Arborea. The Church of Santa Chiara preserves a Gothic apse, as well as substantial remains of the former monastery wings and the old convent. Today, only a few sections remain of Oristano’s original medieval defensive wall, whose circumference exceeded 2 km. The Church and Monastery of del Carmine form a unified Baroque building constructed between 1776 and 1785.

The square Torre di Portixedda tower was probably built between 1290 and 1293 under Judge Mariano II. In January 1682, the Piarists opened their institute in the Palazzo degli Scolopi. The Palazzo Campus Colonna contains interesting paintings relating to Eleonora; it also houses works by important Sardinian artists of the 20th century. The Palazzo Arcais was recently restored and currently hosts events and cultural activities.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Oristano features architectural layers from various styles; its first construction dates back to 1130. The Spanish Tower in Torregrande was built in 1572 and is considered the largest tower in Sardinia. Nuraghe Losa is a three-lobed complex from the Middle Bronze Age, built entirely from large basalt blocks; it is dated to the 15th to 14th century BC.

Excursions

In the Sinis area, the cooperatives Penisola del Sinis and Alea organize excursions in both winter and summer for experienced hikers, beginners and school groups. At the Santa Cristina Archaeological Park, guided tours are offered hourly from 8:30 a.m. until sunset.

Fordongianus has thermal baths supplied by mineral springs with a constant year-round temperature of 56°C. The Roman baths of Fordongianus date from the 1st century AD and are accessible as an archaeological attraction; two facilities can be visited.

Nature and Sea

Mal di Ventre is a flat granite island with a maximum elevation of approximately 20 metres. From Cabras or Putzu Idu, it can only be reached by private boats or tourist excursion boats. The seabed off Mal di Ventre is suitable for diving and is home to a wide variety of marine life, including spiny lobsters, groupers, barracudas and dolphins.

The Museo Civico Giovanni Marongiu in Cabras houses the Giants of Mont'e Prama. Torregrande is a wide beach in Oristano equipped for various recreational activities.

Other Places to Choose From

Bosa, Bosa Marina, Mandriola, Sa Rocca Tunda, Santa Caterina Di Pittinuri, S'arena Scoada, Bauladu, Tresnuraghes, Tinnura, Sennariolo, Riola Sardo, Narbolia, Modolo, Bonarcado, Abbasanta, Nughedu Santa Vittoria, Solanas, Baradili, Arborea, San Vero Milis, Magomadas, S'archittu, Baratili San Pietro, Cuglieri, Sagama, Porto Alabe, Santu Lussurgiu, Terralba, Siamaggiore, Zeddiani, Marrubiu, Funtana Meiga, Zerfaliu, Seneghe, Silì, San Giovanni Di Sinis, Tramatza, Ales, Nurachi, Suni, Scano Di Montiferro, San Salvatore, Santa Giusta, Uras, Neoneli, Solarussa, Masullas, Sedilo, Villaurbana, Milis, Torre Del Pozzo, Gonnosnò, Laconi, Sorradile, Mogoro, San Nicolò d'Arcidano, Montresta, Samugheo, Allai, Paulilatino, Pau, Sini, Nuraxinieddu, Nureci.

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