3 Best Sights in Tharros, Sardinia

This lagoon-side archaeological museum displays many of the better-preserved urns and other artifacts recovered from nearby excavation sites, including Tharros. It is also the main home of the Giganti di Mont'e Prama—unique nuraghic stone statues recovered from the Sinis Peninsula in the 1970s but only recently viewable in their restored state. The visit takes about an hour. Buy a combination ticket to see the Museo Civico and the ruins at Tharros.

Just before the entrance of Tharros, you'll see the small, squat, and pink-domed church of San Giovanni di Sinis, dating from the 11th century. The simplicity of its bare and perfectly preserved interior, with three low-vaulted naves lit by tiny window apertures, offers a fascinating insight into the religious practises of the time.

The spectacular site of the Carthaginian and Roman city of Tharros was, like Nora to the south, chosen because it commanded the best views of the gulf and could provide an easy escape route if inland tribes threatened. The Phoenician-Punic city planning here includes sophisticated water channeling and masonry foundations. Two reconstructed Corinthian columns stand as testament to the site's Roman history, and there are baths visible and mosaic fragments from the Roman city.