A Guide To Tharros, Sardinia: 9 Best Things To Know

Located in the Capo San Marco promontory on the southern far end of the Sinis peninsula, with its two-thousand-years of history, Tharros is one of Sardinia’s most important archaeological sites. It is also one of my favorite sites on the island, and one that I have visited more times than I can remember!

It is often called an “open-air museum”. That’s because of the abundance of well-preserved ruins and relics, and thanks to its location, right next to the beautiful west Sardinian beaches.

Tharros has flourished for a long time especially thanks to its strategic position near the San Giovanni Isthmus: this thin strip of land has always provided a safe harbor for ships throughout the centuries, therefore contributing to Tharros’ prosperity from Nuragic age until its complete abandonment in the 11th century AC.

The site is quite wide, with buildings from a variety of eras and styles, from Nuraghe remainings on the Murru Mannu hill to the San Giovanni di Sinis Church. Most of the remains, however, date back to the Roman and early Christian eras.

You can see the many relics found during various excavations in various museums around Sardinia. Among these there are Cagliari’s National Archaeological Museum, Oristano’s Antiquarium Arborense, and even the British Museum in London. Unfortunately, constant theft and illegal trafficking means that many relics have disappeared. Some are kept in private collections, and we lost track of many others.

Curious to find out more about Tharros? Of course, since I have been there so many times, I am ready to share all its secrets. Continue reading.

A Guide To Visiting Tharros Sardinia

Nuragic and Punic Tharros

There are three different Nuraghe remains in the vicinity of Tharros. Researchers suggest that at the moment of the city foundation by Phoenicians in the VIII century BC, those prehistoric villages had already been abandoned.

As the city went under Carthage’s control, it grew to the point of probably becoming the island’s capital. Among the things left from this early age are two necropolis. These were built a few kilometers apart from each other. Archeologists think there probably were two different, small villages rather than a bigger one.

There also is a Tophet, in which over 5000 urns and 300 stone tablets have been found. This is proof of the sacred place’s importance during the Punic age.

Another important remain is the Quartiere Artigianale Su Murru Mannu. It’s the blacksmiths’ and artisans’ district. For around three centuries it was used to the making of weapons, pottery, and other crafts, specializing in metal’s manufacturing.

Roman Tharros

Rome conquered Tharros in 238 BC, after the Third Punic War. Romans immediately began renewing and often re-building whole parts of the city, including the fortifications of Punic craft.

One of the most important buildings on the site, the Tempio Tetrastilo, dates back to this era. It was erected in the 1st century BC on a pre-existing and probably sacred ground. It originally had four columns, of which only one capital is left.

The two columns we can admire nowadays are a recent copy that was made for touristic purposes only. Archaeologists believe that the temple was a big structure in honor of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. However there’s no evidence of that.

Other important (and ubiquitous in Roman sites) ruins are the thermal complexes, which in the city of Tharros are in a particularly good shape (there are still some mosaics on the floors) and are located in three different spots.

The most relevant one is the so-called Terme n. 3: although only partially visible and still under excavation, this thermal complex is located close to the aqueduct and Castellum Aquae, which were essential to both the city in general and the thermal complexes.

A little outside of the city center you can find the Tempietto K. It has a rectangular shape, a well-preserved altar, and was mainly used during the Imperial age.

However, archaeologists say that it is built from Punic scraps. It has, in fact, several Punic inscriptions on its stones. This is why they call it “Tempio delle Iscrizioni” (“Temple of Inscriptions”).

As I have said before, Tharros flourished greatly during the Roman Imperial age. It expanded. They built (or rebuilt) sturdy roads. The population grew steadily, causing the need for broader, bigger cemeteries. These are still visible in the city outskirts and have gifted archeologists a lot of relics now kept in Cabras’s Museo Civico Giovanni Marongiu.

This museum, founded in 1997, is located in Via Tharros, Cabras, and is the safe storage of thousand of relics from the earliest ages of our territory, starting from the Neolithic age, up to more recent eras.

Of course, the city doesn’t consist of solely public buildings: private houses are numerous as well and you will be able to see and examine their structure and details during your stroll in Tharros.

Christian Tharros

The city remained important during early Christianity. Archeologists found the remains of a church (dedicated, maybe, to St. Marcus) in the area, but only the Battistero remains nowadays. This baptismal font was built around the V-VI century AC with scrap material, probably stolen from a temple of an earlier age.

This church was probably substituted by the San Giovanni di Sinis Church, right outside the Tharros area in the village of San Giovanni di Sinis.

It was firstly built in a Paleo-Christian style during the VI century AC and later expanded and improved during the XI century. Back then Tharros was, once again, capital, this time of the Giudicato di Arborea.

Tharros was finally abandoned around 1050 AC because of recurrent and increasingly violent pirates’ incursions. The most recent historical building is the Torre di San Giovanni, a fort appositely built by the government to keep a watch on the sea in the hopes to prevent such barbaric assaults.

Are you curious about how – and when – to visit this beautiful, history-filled place known as Area Archeologica di Tharros in Italian? Just keep reading!

Practical Information For Visiting Tharros

How to get to Tharros

You can only get to Tharros by car as there is no public bus to the site. If you don’t have a car, you may want to take a bus to Oristano and hop on a taxi from there.

Here are the driving directions to Tharros Sardinia:

FROM CAGLIARI – Take the SS131 / E25 northbound towards Sassari; exit at Oristano Sud-Santa Giusta, pass through Oristano, and proceed towards Cabras. Once there, follow the signs to the Museum or towards San Giovanni di Sinis beach. The site is right next to the sea, the Museum is in front of the Cabras Pond. Driving time: 1.5 hours.

FROM ALGHERO – Take the SS291 towards Sassari-Cagliari. At the end of SS291, take SS131 / E25 towards Cagliari. Exit at Oristano Nord and follow the signs to Cabras; once there, follow the signs to the Museum or the beaches. Driving time: a little over 2 hours.

FROM BOSA – Take SS129bis Trasversale Sarda to SP35. Follow that all the way to SS292 all the way to Riola Sardo, then take SP66 and SP7 to SP6 in Cabras. Once there, you follow the signs to San Giovanni di Sinis Beach. Driving time: 1 hour and 15 minutes.

FROM ARBATAX – Take SS 389 towards Nuoro. Once in Nuoro, take SS131 towards Cagliari. Exit at Oristano Nord and follow the signs to Cabras; once there, follow the signs to the Museum or the beaches. Driving time: 2.5 hours. It’s a bit far and not an ideal day trip.

Once you reach San Giovanni di Sinis, you can drive to the parking lot closer to the site and walk from there, or park closer to the village from where you can take the “trenino di Tharros” shuttle, which will bring you directly to the archaeological area. It runs from March to September, from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

You will have to pay to park your car between June and September included – it costs €2 per hour. Don’t park in undesignated places as the police regularly patrols the area and will give you a fine!

Tharros Archeological site opening hours

Tharros Sardinia is regularly open to the public, but opening hours vary depending on the season. They are as follows:

NOVEMBER TO FEBRUARY – Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Last admission at 4:15 pm.

APRIL MAY AND OCTOBER – Daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Last admission at 5:15 pm.

JUNE TO SEPTEMBER – Daily from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. Last admission at 6:15 pm.

AUGUST – Daily from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Last admission at 7:15 pm.

The site is open on public holidays except December 25 and January 1. Last admission is normally 45 minutes before closing time, though let me stress that 45 minutes are nowhere near enough to visit the site.

Area Archeologica di Tharros tickets

When it comes to admission to Tharros Archeological site you have several ticket options:

THARROS ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE – €9 for adults, €7 reduced fee (over 65 years old and university students up to 26 years old), and €5 for minors between 5 and 17 years old.

COMBINED TICKET (THARROS + MUSEUM) – €13 for adults, €11 reduced fee and €7 for for minors between 5 and 17 years old.

THARROS AND TOWER – There’s an Aragonese watchtower by the site, and you can get there via an easy trail that departs just outside the admission area. From there, you can enjoy stunning coastal views. It costs €11 for adults, €9 reduced fee and €6,50 for minors between 5 and 17 years old.

If you with to visit the 3 sites, tickets are €15 for adults, €12 reduced fee and €8 for minors between 5 and 17 years old.

You can book your tickets on the official site here – there is a small booking fee. Otherwise, you can get tickets directly at the door once you get there.

To best enjoy your visit, you may need a guide. If you need an English language guides you should book one in advance via phone or sending an email at [email protected].

Best time to visit Tharros Sardinia

The best time to visit Tharros really depends on the season. I have been there many times and literally in all season, so here’s a brief overview:

SUMMER – Avoid visiting in the peak hours between 12:00 and 5:00 pm. There is no shade at all on the site and it can get unbearably hot.

SPRING AND FALL – For great photo opportunities, try to visit in the peak hours as the light will be better. Spring is particularly nice as there is a lot of vegetation on the site and it will all be in bloom.

WINTER – It can get quite cold, as the area is very windy, so make sure to wear layers. You may even want to bring a pair of gloves.

Nearby places to visit

Tharros covers a wide area in the gorgeous Sinis Peninsula and there is quite a bit to see in its vicinity. Here are some places I recommend checking out:

• Nuraghe remains in the Murru Mannu Hill (next to the Tophet).
• San Giovanni di Sinis beach: it is right below the site and one of the most beautiful in the area.
• San Giovanni di Sinis village: you will find a nice Romanesque church and several burial sites located along the beach.
• Is Arutas Beach: probably the most famous beach in the Sinis Peninsula. Other beaches include Maimoni and Mari Ermi. You can even take a boat tour to Malu Entu island.
• Museo Civico in Cabras: this is where you can see the famous Mont’e Prama Giants.

My post A Complete Guide To The Sinis Peninsula shares more information on places to visit in the area.

Further Readings

Make sure to read my other posts:

• A Quick Guide To Su Nuraxi, Barumini
• The History Of Sardinia And Where To Discover It
• What You Should Know Before Traveling To Sardinia
• 10 Absolutely Unmissable Things To Do In Sardinia
• The 12 Best Museums In Sardinia
• The Most Incredible Day Trips From Cagliari
• The Most Captivating Castles In Sardinia
• 9 Sardinian Mines You’ll Enjoy Visiting
• A Quick Guide To The Ancient City Of Nora, Sardinia

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