DISCOVER ORISTANO PROVINCE
The quality of life in the Province of Oristano (167,000 inhabitants in 88 municipalities, with substantial absence of microcrime) is at the top of the desire of those who are subjected to the ever-increasing rhythms of the contemporary and frantic city life and, with the Golf Resort of Is Arenas, in a pine forest on the sea, realizes the dream of many golfers. In summary a real stress free holiday and … confusion!
Relaxing, large spaces, uncontaminated nature, with breathtaking landscapes – sea, hill and mountain – millenarian culture and traditions with impressive archaeological fields and excellent gastronomy, with varied local produce, are the ingredients that make an attractive holiday in the Province of Oristano. The improvement, with partial conversion on the motorway of the Cagliari – Sassari dorsal, makes it easy to reach the province by car from the airports from Cagliari and Alghero to an hour’s drive on the freeway 131 never traffic.
Oristano, with its millennial agricultural tradition, has not “shredded” for tourism and therefore has wisely safeguarded its resources both on the coasts and within the mountainous area.
The new orientations of significant tourist flows escalate from destinations that, despite being “roaming and affirming” locations, do not meet the true aim and spirit of a vacation: relaxation with smart Latin “leisure”, aimed at doing what likes and not the “one that has to be done”; just to feel free and to be attracted to what you like at the moment are the prerogatives of a holiday stay in the province of Oristano that in all its parts offers attractions and surprises.
One of the biggest icons of identity in Sardinia are the giant Mont’e of Prama statues, a majestic testimony to a strong and lasting civilization, a warrior aristocracy proud of its status and determined to perpetuate its greatness. The huge statues, still admirable in the Citadel of Museums in Cagliari and in the museum of Cabras (OR), as well as from the site of Mont’e Prama, dating back to the Iron Age (VIII century BC). The area since 1974 has begun to return fragments of huge statues of limestone sandstone. Over 5,000 pieces have been restored patiently. The result of this immense work is 28 imposing statues, almost two meters high, the only ones that the nuragic world returned. This discovery has enriched another two intact statues, completing one of the greatest discoveries of prehistoric Europe.
Su Nuraxi
Near the Giara plateau, in the central-southern part of Sardinia, appears the symbol par excellence of a glorious past, an impressive Nuraghe in excellent condition, the island’s only site to be declared a tangible UNESCO World Heritage Site. At Barumini, in Marmilla, the air you breathe is very special: this was the centre of power of an extremely rich territory dating back to Prehistoric times. Bearing witness to this is Su Nuraxi, not only the most impressive (and most well-preserved) of the thirty nearby sites, but above all the most important inheritance left by the Nuragic civilization. The archaeological area was unearthed in the 1950s by excavations conducted by Giovanni Lilliu. The cultural centre, located a short distance from the Nuraghe, was named after ‘the father’ of Sardinian archaeologists, where events, exhibitions and concerts take place in an unparalleled setting.
Su Nuraxi, made from basalt, reveals two thousand years of stratification, from the 16th century BC to the 7th century AD, and consists of a complex Nuraghe – a bastion with a central tower and four corner towers – and, all around it, a labyrinth of 50 huts, wells and cisterns. The central tower (originally 18 metres high) is the most ancient: the diameter of its walls decreases gradually as you go up towards the top. It was later surrounded by walls with four smaller towers. The boundary wall, however, dates back to a period of war. It is still visible and made the Nuraghe unassailable. These circular huts with conical roofs date back to the Late Bronze Age (14th – 12th century BC) and this type of dwelling is a unique example based on its complexity. The most significant one is the meeting hut, where pots, ornaments, tools, arms and votive images were found. An urban concentration emerged on the ruins of the ancient village at the end of the Nuragic civilization, in which the techniques and decor were those of a modern society, thanks also to external contacts. Punic and Roman occupation followed. The site was inhabited until the 3rd century AD and was frequented in the Early Middle Ages.
Barumini was enriched in the 1990s with another Nuragic complex, Su Nuraxi `e Cresia, which was discovered during restoration work carried out on Casa Zapata, residence of the Aragonite barons built in the middle of the sixteenth century on top of the Nuragic building. Today, the noble palace, garden and courtyard are home to a splendid museum complex.
Taste of Oristano province
Oristano owns ancient gastronomic traditions formed by an immense patrimony whose roots are lost in the past centuries. Following cultural exchanges with the various peoples who have had relations with local people over the course of history, some changes have been made, even though the richness of their culture and civilization.
Oristano cuisine therefore includes all the qualities enjoyed by the gourmet, eager to immerse themselves in fresh and pleasing flavors.
Among the specialties of the Oristano’s gastronomic tradition we find “bottarga” (muggin eggs salted, pressed and dried), which can be served on a table as a fine appetizer or used as a pasta dressing.
Delicacies of gourmet is the good grub, another plate of mullet, bled and wrapped in the” zibba” (a type of grass of the area).
For the pasta we have “malloreddus” often seasoned with a sauce at the “campidanese”. Meat and vegetables, or eel, may be the stuffing of the typical salad pie “panada”.
Montiferru produces an excellent oil, various types of honey, including the exclusive honey of wild rosemary, and the typical “casizolu”, made only with cow milk grown in the wild.
The sweets, such as “mustazzolus, zippulas and amaretti” are also delicious.
Vernaccia, a special type of wine with a high natural alcohol content (from 15 to 18 degrees), considered by dessert, is usually accompanied by tasting of sweets, but also as a delicious aperitif.
The province of Oristano offers many tourist attractions, satisfying both the lovers of the sea and those who love contact with a wild and not urbanized nature.
- Coastline: The Oristano Province has over 90 kilometers of coastline, with many wild and untouched tracts. Coming from the North, you will cross beautiful lonely bays, some of which can only be reached on foot.The itinerary is also inviting for Bird-watching. The area is, in fact, rich in avifauna: cormorants, marangons, berths, pilgrims, seagulls and, sometimes, vulture vultures.
Characteristic of the coast of Oristano are the numerous sight towers spread across different locations: Santa Caterina di Pittinuri, Capo Nieddu, Foghe, Ischia Ruggia, Columbargia, Torre Grande, San Giovanni.
Interesting are also the rivers: River “Tirso” in Oristano, and more north, the canyon created by the mouth of the “Rio Mannu” to Cuglieri, houses humid environments rich in flora and fauna.
After passing the Catalan city of Alghero, the stretch of coast is untouched until the river Bosa, where again there is a sandy stretch at Bosa Marina.
Once arrived at the Sinis peninsula, rocky, but with endless beaches like Is Arenas. Do not miss the beautiful Is Aruttas quartz beach, whose consistency remembers that of rice grains.
The beaches of the Gulf of Oristano, from the shore of Torre Grande to the Marina of Arborea are also very clean and white. - Ponds: Ponds The coasts of Sinis and the Gulf of Oristano are characterized by numerous brackish ponds. This is the second wetland area after the the area of Alto Padano in the north of Italy, recognized by the Ramsar Convention as an area of international natural interest and an important breeding site for different species of migratory birds.
The Oristano is home of lagoons of various kind: there are temporary pools such as Salt Porcus, in the North of the Sinis Peninsula (which can dry out completely in the summer, leaving a salt crust), but also perennial lagoons such as Cabras , the largest in the area with an extension of 2,000 hectares. Also worth mentioning are the ponds of Santa Giusta, S’Ena Arrubia, Mistras, Sa Saja Manna and Is Benas.
In the cold months, thousands of birds winter in the ponds. Among the volatile species the most famous is the pink flamingo, which is located in Sardinia in its journeys between the Camargue and Africa. The heron and the Sultan Chicken are also reported.
The Salt Porcus pond houses a fauna oasis handled by Lipu, the Bird Protection League. In the future, other areas of natural protection are expected in the lagoon of S’Ena Arrubia and in the Tirso delta. - Montiferru: Ancient massive volcanic, with peaks reaching 1050 meters, Montiferru extends in the northwestern area of the Oristano Province and houses large and dense forests of holm oak and cork, chestnuts and trees such as the badgers .
At the highest summits, over a thousand meters as Monte Urtigu and Monte Entu, the wind draws a landscape of grassy steppes. Among the forests of Montiferru live the last curbs, abundant wild boars, foxes, weasels, hares and wild rabbits.
For a few years, the mouflon and the Sardinian deer have been reintroduced thanks to the fenced-in restocking areas set up by the Sardinian Forests Entity, which together with the Lipu has also equipped an aviary where the Griffon Vulture is reproduced.
The Montiferru also offers many trails that allow you to walk along its slopes. Another beauty of this mountain is its many springs and springs.
Montiferru has extraordinary natural beauties, ranging from mountain and hilly areas to flat and coastal areas. An extremely spotted landscape is offered to the visitor by telling the ancient events of wise people who respect nature.
One of the best ways to visit this beautiful Montiferru region is to walk it on foot or on horseback, following the ancient mule tracks that wind up along the mountain. The ideal seasons are spring and autumn, when nature offers extraordinary landscapes.
The volcanic mass is singular for the presence of complex lithological, morphological and environmental elements. It is possible to discover a past that has kept the testimonies of a Paleo-Sardinian culture and then integrated with civilizations from the sea. “Domus de janas”, “nuraghi” and tombs of giants are paths of time, which stretch from the Prenuragico period to the nuragic; from all to reveal the particular character of indigenous peoples in expressing their original culture.