Oristano in Summer

Seasons

Every season is perfect for visiting the city of Oristano. The city’s ideal position in the Campidano Arborense, between the waters of the Tirso river and the large Gulf of Oristano, together with its mild climate and millenary history, make it an interesting destination all year long, one that will never feel trivial.

With its immense wealth in terms of culture, art, history, nature, sports, and food and wine, Oristano offers its visitors a unique, new and fascinating experience, in all seasons.

One may just think about visiting the old town, the foundations of which date all the way back to the Middle Ages, in order to experience journeys through time made possible by many museums holding millenary treasures, seeing all the artisan workshops of potters telling of an ancient tradition going all the way back to the Neolithic, discovering of works of art preserved within the old walls of civil and religious buildings, being part of historical events held for centuries now, tasting typical dishes of tradition to be served based on seasons… all this is just a small part of what you can do here.

Winter, spring, summer, autumn makes no difference. It is always the right season to discover Oristano.

In this article, you will get to know everything about the best activities for making your summer in Oristano truly memorable.

1 A Walk on the Promenade

Torre Grande truly comes alive during the summer season, and a walk along its promenade is definitely due if you visit Oristano.

The beach is very popular in summer, both during the day and in the evening, also thanks to the few kilometers of distance linking the city of Oristano with the lively Marina di Torre Grande.

The most imposing out of all Sardinian coastal towers will accompany your walk along the tree-lined promenade, animated by kiosks and restaurants from which you may enjoy spectacular aperitifs, lunches and dinners by the sea.

2 Summer nightlife

Oristano has a very lively nightlife that satisfies any need. Apart from the many events booked for the summer season, lounge bars, beach bars, pubs, clubs with live music and discos populate both Oristano and the Torre Grande seafront.

From aperitif to after-dinner, and all the way late at night, Oristano offers a great nightlife, enriched every summer by a rich program of events including concerts and DJ sets, markets and tastings of typical local products and food excellence of the area.

Apart from this, the center of Oristano becomes extremely vibrant with the “Notte Bianca” events for “Shopping Under the Stars”, during which Oristanese people and tourists alike gather in the old town with shops open, music and events lasting all night long.

3 The Summer Sartiglietta

The name Sa Sartigliedda indicates the mini-summer version of the Sartiglia falling on the day of the Assumption (August 15th), with the latter being celebrated as we know during the cold Carnival.

For this event, the scenography gets tinted in blue, due to the fact that the Sartiglietta is celebrated at only 10 kilometers from Oristano, in the locality of Torre Grande, right along the beach overlooking a crystalline sea.

Those who never attended the Sartiglia will get a taste of the most famous and peculiar equestrian race in Italy. The “etta” diminutive already anticipates the nature of the race, where the real protagonists are children and young people, testing themselves with Pariglias and games of skill and dexterity on the horses, once again the undisputed stars of the city.

4 Urban Trekking in the Old Town

If you happen to visit the city of Oristano in the summer, an urban trek in the old town is certainly due. Numerous communities of the past have walked over these grounds, leaving countless marks on monuments, art and even on food.

Starting from the central Piazza Duomo, where the ancient Cathedral stands out, through narrow streets between elegant historic buildings, you will get under the statue of Eleonora d’Arborea in the square bearing her own name, which stretches towards the Torre di Mariano. The sight of the artistic and archaeological beauties contained in the Municipal Art Gallery and in the Arborense Antiquarium Museum accompanies the senses of smell and taste, taking visitors to the discovery of everyday food and local festive days, among the pretty bistros of the city center.

5 Relax and Sports in the Gulf of Oristano

The Gulf of Oristano is the ideal starting point for practicing many water sports, such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. It is the constant wind that makes this gulf the ideal place for sailing sports, and quite often, this location hosts even the strongest athletes in the world.

The Oristano coast also boasts the highest concentration of quality surf spots in the entire Mediterranean basin. The coast’s constant exposure to mistral winds and its particular morphology make it one of the most interesting areas of the whole European continent. Within the Gulf of Oristano, it is also possible to test your balance with the stand-up paddle, while getting a full immersion in the reality of traditional local fishing in itineraries of impressive naturalistic interest.

6 Explore Oristano's Surroundings

Apart from being so rich in history, culture and natural beauty, Oristano is also a rather interesting tourist destination due to the many splendid sites are located a few kilometers away from the city.

Indeed, the province of Oristano offers unforgettable joys and emotions for all tastes. In this view, the province has so much to offer in terms of both beaches (such as Is Arutas, San Giovanni di Sinis, S’Archittu, Mari Ermi, Putzu Idu, etc.), archaeological sites (such as the Pozzo di Santa Cristina, the Nuraghis, the Scavi dei Giganti of Mont’e Prama, the ruins of Tharros, the Roman Baths of Fordongianus) and enchanting villages (such as Bosa, Santu Lussurgiu, Laconi, San Salvatore, etc.).