Oristano is the biggest city at the west coast of Sardinia, but it still has just a population of about 32,000 people (end 2010). However, the city is also the capital of the region "Oristano", and so most of the economic and cultural life happens here.

Oristano also has a dome, and here we see the tower of the dome shining through the trees.

This is a beautiful detail of the wall of the Oristano dome.

A beautiful painting at the ceiling of the dome of Oristano.

This is the interior of the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta, simple yet beautiful.

And another photo showing the interior of the Oristano Dome.

The Dome's official name is "Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta". It is situated in the historic center of Oristano as part of a Byzantine settlement. This has been confirmed by the discovery of graves in the churchyard. It was rebuilt in Romanesque style around 1130. Of the early Byzantine church there still are remains visible in the garden. The Romanesque church was probably destroyed during a siege around 1195 but it was (at least partially) restored in the thirteenth century during the government of Mariano II (see the inscriptions on the door knockers). During the eighteenth century the entire building was rebuilt, except for three chapels of the transept.

A final photo of the Duomo. Now we head for the busy city center.

This is the Piazza Eleonora...

...with a statue of the cities' popular hero, Eleonora d'Arborea (1350-1404). She really changed a lot during her regency and introduced the "Carta de Logu", a codex that acted as law foundation in Sardinia from 1395 to 1861. She also introduced laws to protect eagles and other large birds.

This is the "high street" of Oristano, the Corso Umberto I. You will find a number of really nice shops here. At the end of the street is the Piazza Roma that really marks the city center.

A final photo of Oristano's city center: We saw many graffitis, creating a somewhat "run down" impression, regardless of the nice shops and friendly people around.