Oristano

Oristano
Aristanis
Comune
Comune di Oristano

Oristano: Statue of Eleanor of Arborea, holding the Carta de Logu in her hand, with the sundial on the wall of the City Hall in the backdrop.
Oristano

Location of Oristano in Sardinia

Coordinates: IT 39°54′N 08°35′E / 39.900°N 8.583°E / 39.900; 8.583
Country Italy
Region Sardinia
Province / Metropolitan city Oristano (OR)
Frazioni Donigala, Massama, Marina di Torre Grande, Nuraxinieddu, Silì, Torre Grande
Government
  Mayor Guido Tendas (Centre-left)
Area
  Total 84.63 km2 (32.68 sq mi)
Elevation 10 m (30 ft)
Population (31 December 2010)
  Total 32,156
  Density 380/km2 (980/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Oristanesi
Aristanesus
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 09170
Dialing code 0783
Patron saint St. Archelaus
Saint day February 13
Website Official website

Oristano [oriˈstaːno]  listen  (Sardinian: Aristanis) is an Italian city and comune, capital of the Province of Oristano, in the central-western part of the island of Sardinia, Italy. It is located in the northern part of Campidano plain. Oristano was established as the provincial capital on 16 July 1974. As of December 2010, the city had 32,165 inhabitants.[1]

The economy of Oristano is mainly based on services, agriculture, tourism and small industries.

History

Port'a Ponti Door Tower in Piazza Roma

Oristano was previously known by the Byzantines as Aristanis (in Byzantine Greek: Αριστάνις), and founded close to the Phoenician settlement of Othoca (now Santa Giusta). It acquired importance in 1070, when, reputedly as a result of the frequent Saracen attacks, Archbishop Torcotorio made it the seat of the bishopric, which was previously in the nearby coastal town of Tharros. It also became capital of the giudicato ("judiciary", equivalent to a Duchy or Kingdom) of Arborea. Consequently, fortifications were designed, but the building thereof went on until judge Mariano II rose to power.

In medieval times Oristano vied for power over the whole island of Sardinia, and therefore waged wars against the other Sardinian kingdoms. which culminated in the attempt to conquer the whole island during the reign (1347–75) of Mariano IV and that of his daughter Eleanor (1375–1404). The giudicato of Arborea held out to be the last Sardinian kingdom to be conquered by the Catalan troops of the Kingdom of Aragon, in 1478 after the battle of Macomer. Thereafter, Oristano's history was that of the island of Sardinia, characterized by the Aragonese-Spanish (until 1708) and Piedmontese (from 1720) dominations, and then the unification of Italy.

Main sights

The Christ in the Church of St. Francis

Sa Sartiglia and other events

Costumes of Oristano

Sa Sartiglia, otherwise known at its inception as Sartilla, is an equestrian tournament held in Oristano for the past 500 years on Carnival Sunday and Mardi Gras. The tournament on Sunday is organized by the Corporation (Gremio) of farmers, whereas that on Mardi Gras by the Gremio of carpenters. It has, arguably, an ancient Castillan origin. Researchers M. Falchi and M. Zucca found a manuscript dating the first tournament to 1543, whereas Pau, a late local historian, believed it originated in Oristano before the Spaniards set foot on the island. In fact, in a letter written to an English friar in the 14th century, St. Catherine of Siena stated that the Judge of Arborea could provide two galleys and one thousand horsemen to fight in a crusade for ten years. While being far from conclusive evidence that the tournament had already been, or was about to be held, this letter is certainly a testament to the importance of horse-breeding in Oristano and its surrounding countryside at the time.

The name "Sartiglia" comes from Sortija which, in turn, evolved from the Latin word Sorticola, the diminutive form of Sors which does not only mean fate and fortune, but also "ring".

The ring is a tin star provided with a hole at its centre, hanging from a ribbon strung above horseman's height across the street near the Cathedral, at which masked horsemen aim with their swords on steeds galloping at breath-taking speed, after being announced by trumpets and drums and having gathered pace down a route, covered with sand, snaking across the town centre. The number of stars caught on each day is a sign of the wealth that the harvest and carpentry work will bring to the corporations.

At the end of Sa Sartiglia, elsewhere within the old walls, another sand covered route will be trodden by horses ridden by those same masked horsemen and women showing their stunning prowess, while engaging in all sorts of acrobatics on two and three galloping steeds at a time. This is called La Pariglia, and ends at sunset.

The leader of both trials is called Su Componidori, meaning "the one who marshals". He is chosen by the members of the Corporations, who do not disclose his name until Candlemas, when Su Majorale announces it directly to the appointee and a careful selection of the horses as well as adequate practice can start. He is neither a man, nor a woman but androgynous, much akin to the land and, at the end of the tournament, blesses by-standers and the town with the "little doll of May" (Sa Pippia 'e maiu), a bunch of flowers swaddled in a ribbon, believed to pre-date the tournament itself, followed by the other horsemen at a canter first, and then alone, riding with his back on his galloping steed's, face up gazing at the Heavens.

Transport

Oristano can be reached by train from Sardinia's ports of Olbia and Porto Torres, and the island's main cities Cagliari and Sassari. From Oristano all villages of the province can be reached by buses departing the bus station close to centrally-located Piazza Mannu. Moreover, a private concern provides a twice-daily bus service to and from Cagliari airport. The journey takes approximately 2 hours.

Oristano is served by the Fenosu Airport, far 3 km (2 mi) from the city, and by a cargo sea port.

Climate

Climate data for Oristano, Sardinia
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 13.2
(55.8)
13.2
(55.8)
14.7
(58.5)
16.7
(62.1)
20.8
(69.4)
24.5
(76.1)
27.8
(82)
28.8
(83.8)
26.0
(78.8)
21.9
(71.4)
17.3
(63.1)
14.4
(57.9)
19.9
(67.8)
Average low °C (°F) 7.6
(45.7)
7.5
(45.5)
8.6
(47.5)
10.3
(50.5)
13.7
(56.7)
17.3
(63.1)
20.1
(68.2)
21.1
(70)
18.7
(65.7)
15.3
(59.5)
11.3
(52.3)
8.8
(47.8)
13.4
(56.1)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 50.0
(1.969)
60.5
(2.382)
44.4
(1.748)
51.4
(2.024)
32.8
(1.291)
16.7
(0.657)
4.4
(0.173)
7.3
(0.287)
34.2
(1.346)
69.7
(2.744)
92.5
(3.642)
65.0
(2.559)
528.9
(20.822)
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) 8 8 7 8 5 2 1 1 4 8 10 9 71
Source: [2]

Twin towns - sister cities

Oristano is twinned with:

See also

References

Bibliography
Notes
  1. All demographics and other statistics: National Institute of Statistics (Italy) (Istat).
  2. Weather Service of the Italian Air Force " Servizio Meteorologico dell' Aeronautica Militare"

External links

Media related to Oristano at Wikimedia Commons

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