Population: 32,325

Oristano was founded by the inhabitants of Tharros, an ancient Punic and later Roman city, whose ruins lie on the Sinis Penisola, and was the chief town of the 'Giudicato', or District of Arborea.

During the Aragonese conquest of that area of the island, in an attempt to free themselves from Pisan dominion, the inhabitants first joined forces with the Aragonses and then rose up against them. Oristano was the centre of the uprising led by Mariano IV, Ugone and Eleonora of Arborea, who drew up a code of laws called Carta de Logu. This code was later to be extended to the other parts of Sardinia and remained in vigour until 1827. When Eleonora died the 'Giudicato', or district, was abolished and Oristano became a marquisate under Aragonese rule.

In 1470, after a struggle against the Count of Quirra, which culminated in the battle of Uras, Leonardo Alagon managed to conquer the town. However, just a few years later, King Ferdinando confiscated the marquisate's possessions and took control of the town after the battle of Macomer (1478), in which Leonardo Alagon was defeated and subsequently imprisoned. Under Spanish dominion Oristano experienced a period of decline as a result of the barbarian invasions and the devastating effects of the plague.
However, with the arrival of the Savoy ruling family the town once again began to grow and soon became a busy agricultural and trading centre. The whole area was reclaimed in the 1920s with very beneficial results for the local farming industry.


The long beach of Torregrande lies about 7 km. from the town. It is dominated by the biggest Spanish coastal tower on the island and is the favourite beach for the people of Oristano.
Further along the road which leads to Cuglieri, there are a series of marvellous beaches one after the other: first the beach of Is Arùtas, where the sand is made up of tiny grains of quartz, then that of Mari Ermì and Putzu Idu, ideal for children because of the shallow water, and finally the beach of Is Arènas. The latter is particularly interesting because visitors can admire a rock, which the movement of the water has shaped into a natural archway, and the wreck of an ancient ship. Slightly further on there is the beach of Santa Caterina di Pittinurri.


The town centre is marked by the beautiful Piazza Eleonora, where there is a monument in honour of Eleonora d'Arborea. The most important buildings in the town can also be found in the centre, such as the Town Hall (XVII century), the Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace, the church of Santissima Trinità, the Tridentine Seminary, the Carmelites Monastery (XVIII-XIX century), the church of S.Francesco, where there is a wooden crucifix called "di Nicodemo", one of the most important Gothic sculptures in Sardinia, the church of S.Domenico, the Capuchin Monastery, the Arborea Antiquarium, The Parpaglia palace, the Tower of Mariano III, the church of S. Chiara, the Carmine Church (1785) and the house of Eleonora D'Arborea (XVI century).
The Arborea Antiquarium Museum boasts a small picture-gallery, with pictures which date back to the period under Spanish dominion, and an impressive exhibition of archaeological finds uncovered at the excavation sites of Tharros and throughout the Sinis peninsular.

The cathedral was built in 1228, but it has been retouched a number of times. Only a few parts of the apse, the base of the bell tower and a Gothic chapel belong to the original structure, whilst the Archive chapel dates back to the end of the sixteenth century. The rest of the church was rebuilt between the XVIII and the XIX century. Inside the church visitors can admire the Virgin Mary (XIV century) by Nino Pisano and some works by Giovanni Marghinotti and Salvatore Concas (XVIII-XIX century).

The Capitular Hall hosts the Cathedral Treasure, which includes precious medieval works of art and sacred paraments. To the south of Oristano lies the lagoon of Santa Giusta, one ofthe richest lagoons in Sardinia for fish. There is also the Santa Giusta cathedral (1145), one of the most beautiful Gothic-Pisan churches on the island.
Torregrande Marina, the town's beach, lies to the north of the Gulf of Oristano and is equipped with a tourist harbour and all the necessary services. Here visitors can also admire one of the biggest coastal towers in Sardinia: Sa Turri Manna (XVI century).
The most important festival in Oristano, and also one of the most well-known in Sardinia, is Sa Sartiglia, a horse riding joust which dates back to the XVI century. The skilled horsemen gallop down a narrow corridor and at a tremendous speed try to centre a star suspended across the road with their jousting sticks. This spectacular event takes place every year on the last Sunday in February.
Other fascinating events are the celebrations in honour of the Settimana Santa (Holy Week), as well as the Festival of the Madonna del Rimedio, held on 8th September.