Page 140 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

138  SARDINIA AREA B Y AREA

o Oristano with Pisan bas relief sculpture
depicting Daniel in the lions’
Placed at the northern border of the Campidano region, den. The Renaissance choir
between the mouth of the Tirso river and the Santa Giusta behind the main altar is another
marshlands, Oristano is the largest town in western Sardinia. It important work. The rich and
was founded in 1070, after the powerful and prosperous city of varied Tesoro del Duomo, the
cathedral treasury, is housed
Tharros was abandoned, the inhabitants defeated by constant in the chapterhouse, and
pirate raids. The period between 1100 and 1400 saw the rise of silverwork, vestments and
the city under enlightened rulers such as Mariano IV and his illuminated manuscripts can
daughter Eleonora, who controlled most of Sardinia. Oristano be seen upon request. On
became the provincial capital only in 1974. The town stands Piazza del Duomo are the
Palazzo Arcivescovile (arch­
in the middle of a fertile plain with a network of pools, well- bishop’s palace) and the
stocked with fish. The historic centre, once protected by the Seminario Tridentino.
city walls, is small and mostly a pedestrian-only zone.
P Torre di Mariano II
Piazza Roma.
Also called Torre di San
Cristoforo or Porta Manna,
this sandstone tower at the
northern end of the former
city walls was built in 1291
by the ruler of the Arborea
principality, Mariano II. This
and the Portixedda tower, just
opposite, are the sole surviving
remains of the old city walls.
At the top of the tower is a
large bell made in 1430. The
Torre di Mariano is open on its
inner façades and looks over
Piazza Roma, the heart of city
The Cathedral of Oristano with its octagonal campanile life, with its fashionable shops
and outdoor cafés.
R Cattedrale and now dis plays a mixture of
Piazza Mannu. Tel 0783 786 84. Open influences. The remaining P Corso Umberto
7am–noon, 4–6:30pm daily. 7 original elements are the This pedestrian street, also
Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin octagonal bell tower with its known as Via Dritta, is the most
Mary, the Cathedral was built in onion dome and brightly elegant in Oristano with impres­
1228 by Lombard architects and coloured majolica tiles, the sive buildings such as Palazzo
masons for Mariano di Torres. It bronze doors and the Cappella Siviera, once the residence of
was totally rebuilt in the 17th del Rimedio, which has a fine the Marquise d’Acrisia, which
century in the Baroque style marble balustrade decorated has a dome on top, and Palazzo
The Knights of the Star
The Sa Sartiglia procession and tournament is centuries­
old and is held on the last Sunday of Carnival and on
Shrove Tuesday. It was probably introduced in 1350
by Mariano II to celebrate his wedding. On 2 February
the procession leader, su Componidori, is chosen. On the
day of the event he is dressed by a group of girls. A white
shirt is sewn on him, his face is wrapped in fasciae and
covered with a woman’s mask, and a bride’s veil and
black hat are placed on his head. He then leads a
procession of knights, trumpeters and drummers
through the city to the tournament grounds by the
Arcivescovado and the Cathedral. At a given signal
the tournament begins. The leader has to run his sword
into the hole in the middle of a star hanging from a
string, and pick it up. If he succeeds, this signals a
prosperous year. The Sa Sartiglia tournament at Oristano

For hotels and restaurants in this region see p178 and p188

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm