Cabras, Tharros Archaeological Area

Tharros is located at the southern end of the Sinis Peninsula. It unfolds in the Gulf of Oristano on a sort of natural amphitheater bounded to the north by the hill of Su Muru Mannu, to the west by that of the tower of San Giovanni and to the south by the isthmus that connects the latter to the promontory of Capo San Marco.
Tharros was founded towards the end of the 8th century BC and was abandoned around the year 1050 AD to give rise to Aristiane, the current Oristano. What is visible of the city mainly refers to its Roman imperial phase, but monuments from the previous Punic era also remain, of significant interest.
Among these, the system of northern fortifications stands out, consisting of two high walls made of large worked stones, which make up a large ditch, accessible from the side of the town by means of posts, one of which, excavated, in excellent condition from the base to the roof with double-sloped plates.
The main characteristic aspect is given, on the southern hill, by the long roads that lead downhill to the actual center, distinguishing blocks and monumental buildings, such as the large thermal baths located right on the border with the flat area. In this, the 'temple of the semicolumns', from the Punic age, stands out. Built in natural rock, it consists of a high stepped podium, whose perimeter, perfectly smoothed, is adorned with semi-columns carved in low relief.
The urban sector adjacent to the sea has public buildings, such as the Terme di Convento Vecchio, in good condition, which preserve the original environments, with the plunge pools. Going up the slope of the hill that leads to the Spanish tower of San Giovanni, you will find a small temple structure from the late Punic era, the “temple of inscriptions”.

History of excavations
Investigations of the site began in 1838 by the Marquis Scotti and the Jesuit Perotti. In 1842, an excavation wanted by the King of Sardinia Carlo Alberto enriched the royal collections of Turin with gold coins, jewels and scarabs. Thanks to the king, a ban was obtained on clandestine excavations aimed at illicit enrichment. In 1851, Lord Vernon, an Englishman who was on the 'Grand Tour' of Italy, dug 14 underground graves and, among other things, found many jewels, which he brought with him to England. The discoveries aroused the interest of the inhabitants of nearby Cabras who violated about 500 tombs. In 1860, the then director of the Cagliari museum, Gaetano Cara, discovered some Punic tombs containing rich items, which he stole and offered to the main museums in Europe and finally sold them to the British Museum in London. From 1956 to 1964, Gennaro Pesce brought to light part of the town east of the tower of San Giovanni and, to the north, the area of the Tofet. Ferruccio Barreca, in 1958, identified the temple at the end of Capo San Marco and, from 1969 to 1973, continued the excavation of the town, the fortifications and the tofet. This last area was investigated in collaboration with Enrico Acquaro.

Bibliography
G. Pesce, “Tharros”, in Encyclopedia of Ancient, Classical and Oriental Art, VI, Rome 1966, pp. 800-806;
E. Acquaro - C. Finzi, Tharros, series “Archaeological Sardinia. Guides and itineraries”, 5, Carlo Delfino, Sassari, 1986;
R.D. Barnett - C. Mendleson, Tharros. A Catalogue of Material in the British Museum from Phoenician and Other Tombs at Tharros, Sardinia, British Museum, London 1987;
M. Falchi, “Analysis of the urban configuration of Tharros”, in Tharros, edited by P. Desogus, Nuoro, 1991, pp. 23-37;
R. Zucca, Tharros, Oristano, G. Corrias, 1993; E. Acquaro, C. Finzi, Tharros, series “Archaeological Sardinia. Guides and itineraries”, 5, Sassari, Carlo Delfino, 1999;
C. Del Vais, The Third Life of Tharros the Plundered City, “Darwin. Notebooks”, n. 1 (July-August 2006), pp. 76-85.

Tag

Structure category: archaeological area or park

Content type: Archaeological complex
Archaeology

Usability: Open

Province: Oristano

Common: Cabras

Macro Territorial Area: Central Sardinia

POSTAL CODE: 09072

Address: SP 6 - località Tharros, San Giovanni di Sinis

Telephone: +39 0783 370019

E-mail: info@tharros.sardegna.it drm-sar@cultura.gov.it

Website: www.tharros.sardegna.it www.penisoladelsinis.it musei.sardegna.beniculturali.it/Area archeologica di Tharros

Facebook: facebook.com/tharrosareaarcheologica

Twitter: twitter.com/Tharros

November - March

Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

April - Maggio

Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

June - September

Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday

9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

01 August - 31 August

Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday

9:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Information on tickets and access: To check for any changes in access times to the archaeological park, we recommend visiting the manager's dedicated web page. Open on holidays except December 25 and January 1. You can buy a cumulative ticket, with various combinations, for more information visit the official website. Reservations are required by calling +39 0783 290636. The e-mail: drm-sar@cultura.gov.it is intended for the issuance of authorizations or administrative requests: excavation concessions, requests for video shooting, etc.

Access mode: For a fee

Tickets :

Integer : 6.5 €, adults from 18 to 64 years old, .

Reduced : 5 €, students up to 26 years old with a valid university card or booklet, adults over 65, groups of at least 20 people, .

Reduced : 3.5 €, children up to 17 years old, school groups, .

Cumulative integer : 12 €, adults from 18 to 64 years old, for a visit to Tharros, Giovanni Marongiu Civic Museum and Torre di San Giovanni .

Cumulative integer : 10 €, adults from 18 to 64 years old, for a visit to Tharros and Giovanni Marongiu Civic Museum .

Cumulative integer : 8.5 €, adults from 18 to 64 years old, for a visit to Tharros and St. John's Tower .

Reduced cumulative : 9 €, students up to 26 years old with a valid university card or booklet, adults over 65, groups of at least 20 people, for a visit to Tharros, Giovanni Marongiu Civic Museum and Torre di San Giovanni .

Reduced cumulative : 7.5 €, students up to 26 years old with a valid university card or booklet, adults over 65, groups of at least 20 people, for a visit to Tharros and Giovanni Marongiu Civic Museum .

Reduced cumulative : 6.5 €, students up to 26 years old with a valid university card or booklet, adults over 65, groups of at least 20 people, for a visit to Tharros and St. John's Tower .

Reduced cumulative : 6 €, children up to 17 years old, school groups, for a visit to Tharros, Giovanni Marongiu Civic Museum and Torre di San Giovanni .

Reduced cumulative : 5 €, children up to 17 years old, school groups, for a visit to Tharros and Giovanni Marongiu Civic Museum .

Reduced cumulative : 4.5 €, children up to 17 years old, school groups, for a visit to Tharros and St. John's Tower .

Freeware : 0 €, children up to 5 years old, disabled people and companions, tourist guides, ICOM members, professors, researchers and university students in subjects related to archeology and cultural heritage, journalists, archaeologists., .

Other services: There are standard toilets for people with disabilities, but there are no ramps and easy paths for accessing the site.

Update

30/10/2024 - 15:10

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