Subjects
Subjects
The site, dominating the Gulf of Oristano, had already been chosen by the Carthaginians to plant the Acropolis of Tharros. The tower, 50 m above sea level, controlled the entire coast for a radius of 28 km and maintained visual contact with the towers of San Marco, Torre Grande, Marceddà, Capo Frasca, del Sevo and Mora.
The tower takes its name from the nearby early medieval church of San Giovanni di Sinis and is one of the most impressive in the Gulf, second only to that of Torre Grande. It was built between the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century, probably during the reign of Philip II, and perhaps during the viceroyalty of De Moncada. Cited by Giovanni Francesco Fara, it therefore existed before 1590 and was still operational in 1623. It was a 'Torre de Armas', that is, a 'strong' tower, suitable for defense. Externally similar to two overlapping cylinders, it has a base diameter of more than 14 m and a height, including the terrace, of 11 m, to which must be added the foundation plinth and the parapet of the parade ground (terrace with outdoor artillery). The wall thickness is also remarkable, of about 4 m. The material used for the construction is calcareous sandstone; recovered material is recognized from the Punic-Roman ruins of the area.
The hatch is made of stones and stone lintels and opens more than 5 m from the ground. This opening gives rise to a long corridor through the thick masonry to the inner chamber, about 6 m wide and turned like a dome. Built into the thick wall are the tank hatch and the fireplace, as well as the access to the room of the warden (captain of the tower). To the south of the entrance there is the staircase that leads to the terrace, which consists of two ramps and in the middle floor you can enter a trapezoidal compartment equipped with slits.
In 1720, repair work was carried out and in 1784, additional maintenance works were carried out. According to the report by Ripol, sent by the Kingdom of Piedmont, in 1767 the tower was organized by a garrison consisting of a warden, an artilleryman and six soldiers. In 1808 and 1823, new restorations were reported. The tower was guarded until 1846. In 1837 it was used by La Marmora as a geodetic point. In the second half of the 19th century, when the tower was manned to suppress smuggling, the gunboats were hit and two houses were built on the terrace, in stone and brick masonry. In addition, to facilitate access, a quadrangular body was placed on the hatch for a wooden staircase with several ramps.
History of studies
The tower is included in the main works on coastal fortifications in Sardinia.
Bibliography
G.F. Fara, De Chorographia Sardiniae books duo. De rebus sardosis books quattruor, Turin, Ex Typographia Regia, 1835;
E. Pillosu, The Coastal Towers in Sardinia, Cagliari, La Cartotecnica Typography, 1957;
G. Montaldo, The Coastal Towers in Sardinia, Sassari, Carlo Delfino, Sassari 1992;
F. Russo, The Coastal Defense of the Kingdom of Sardinia from the 16th to the 19th Century, Rome, Army General Staff, Historical Office, 1992; F. Segni Pulvirenti-A. Sari, Late Gothic and Renaissance Architecture, Nuoro, Ilisso, 1994, sch. 21;
M. Rassu, Guide to Coastal Towers and Forts, Cagliari, Artigianarte, Cagliari 2000.
How to get
To the north exit of Oristano, continue along the “Ponte del Rimedio” in the direction of Sinis, San Salvatore and Tharros, which you arrive after about 40 km. The fort is inside an area guarded above the Tharros excavations.
Structure category: Monument or Monumental Complex
Content type:
Fortified architecture
Usability: Open
Province: Oristano
Common: Cabras
Macro Territorial Area: Central Sardinia
POSTAL CODE: 09072
Address: SP 6, località San Giovanni di Sinis
Telephone: +39 0783 370019
E-mail: info@penisoladelsinis.it
Website: www.tharros.sardegna.it/visita-il-sinis/torre-di-san-giovanni-e-torre-vecchia
Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Tharros-PenisoladelSinis-Coop/100057456789522
January - 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 - July
Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
August 01 - August 31
Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
September 01 - September 30
Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
October 01 - October 31
Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
November - December
Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Information on tickets and access: To see the other cumulative ticket offers and to know the other categories of users who are entitled to free access, please refer to the dedicated web page. The tower is closed for December 25.
Access mode: For a fee
Tickets :
Other services: There are standard toilets for people with disabilities, but there are no ramps and easy paths for accessing the site.
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