Tharros was founded by Phoenicians during the 8th century B.C. It is located in the municipality of Cabras, in the Sinis Mainland. The archeological site of Tharros bewitches visitors both for the ruins of the old commercial town and for its geographical position looking over Oristano Gulf and farther The Monte Linas range. Dominating the Tharros ruins there is The San Giovanni Tower built with the stones of Tharros, already abandoned in the 10th century A.C. because of the constant raids north African pirates perpetuated for years along Sardinian coasts. These constant incursions pushed local people to move inland where today we find Oristano, a safer place surrounded by lots of marshes.
From Tharros we can reach “San Marco” Cape, the northern promontory of the Oristano Gulf, where an old lighthouse represents the extreme point of Sinis Mainland. Sinis is the depression ara of Oristano region, separated from it by extensive sandy strips. This is a lagoon which extends for 450 hectares, deep from 0.5 m to 1 m. The environment, characterized by constant winds, salinity and low rains, has favoured the presence of remarkable animal species, above of all: many birds. The most common birds are: pink flamingos, cormorant, marsh harrier, herring gull, sea partridge, heron. Ornithologically speaking, Sinis is one of the most important areas of Sardinia.
The excursion includes a guided tour into the Tharros ruins, the San Giovanni church and walking along the Sinis Peninsula. The San Giovanni church is sited at the entrance of the village of S.Giovanni di Sinis, along a modern road following the old street connecting Tharros to Cornus. The church was built in the 6th century A.D. On an area used as a necropolis, originally pagan and then Christian.