My main purpose of visiting Oristano was to see the artifacts that were taken from the Phoenician colony of Tharros, which are housed in the local museum called the Museo Comunale Antiquarium Arborense di Oristano.Oristano, or Aristanis in Sardinian, is a small town of about 33,000 inhabitants whose livelihood is based on fishing, farming, and tourists.
The city rose to power in the first centuries of the Saracen attacks, going on to wage war against other Sardinians as it vied for insular power.
One of the most famous events held in Oristano is the 500-year-old equestrian tournament called Sa Sartiglia, which is performed on Carnival Sunday and Fat Tuesday. The event concludes with la Pariglia, a time of equestrian acrobatics.
Notice that in both pictures the men are wearing masks, a ritualistic custom that dates back thousands of years to Sardinia’s ancient past. For more information, check out Sardinia’s museum of masks: Museo delle Maschere Mediterranee.Unfortunately I was unable to attend the festivities since it is now September, but I did enjoy walking about this Medieval town.
Slideshow Copyright Men's Fashion by Francesco.
