Oristano is faces the west of the Mediterranean basin and has always been a meeting place and merging point of cultural and ethnic elements. It has played an important historical role because of its geographical position oni two routes of internal access: the Campidano Plain and the Tirso Valley.
The Piazza Roma is the centre of town. The Tower of St. Christopher stands on the square and dates back to the 13-th century. The Corso Umberto is the main axis of town and takes you from the Piazza Roma to the Piazza Eleonora d'Arborea. On summer evenings many young Oristanesi can be found on this street, flirting and rambling.
A few blocks away, at the end of Via Castro, the Church of San Francesco dates from the beginning of the 19-th century but inside the church you find many works of art that go back a lot further. The Duomo down the Via d'Arborea is an amalgam of styles and well worth a visit. If you want to see some more churhces head out to the Basilica of Santa Giusta 2 km out of town on the road to Cagliari, a Pisan style construction form the 12-th century with many typical Sardinian elements.
Daytrips from Oristano include a visit to the Sinis Peninsula with the ruins of Tharros an old Phoenician port, and the The costa de prata, 35 km south of Oristano with sandy beaches and not many people one them.
