The Gulf of Oristano is a deep bay on the west coast of Sardinia: two towers, Marceddì in the south and Torre Grande in the north, guard the bay and its territory filled with historical events. The Phoenicians made it their trading center and built the magnificent city of Tharros; from the nuragic people comes the most important testimony to their ancient culture, the mysterious sacred wells, the imposing nuraghes and the fascinating giants of Mount Prama. The bay represents also clean and safe sea, protected from currents and strong winds; in complete relaxation and in a hospitable, spontaneous and familiar environment, far from the rhythms of classic seaside resorts, you can swim, fish and do sports. It is an ideal destination for a cycling holiday: little traffic, flat terrain and numerous routes between beaches, ponds, salt marshes and lagoons. Close to a wetland of international importance, protected by the RAMSAR Convention, are the calm and unfrequented beaches of Santa Giusta with shallow water, surrounded by small dunes where wild lilies grow. Another beach, Torregrande, is one of the busiest, but it is never crowded because it is very long: in the evening, the bars and kiosks on the waterfront become a place for concerts, parties and meetings, offering the opportunity to simply enjoy the sea breeze in the company of friends. There is a lot of peace and quiet on the beaches of Arborea, which are among the most beautiful in the bay: clear water, white sand and a fragrant pine forest that provides shade in the hottest summer hours. This area is popular for horse riding enthusiasts, which is also a great passion of the locals. Fans of equestrian tourism will find the best stables and services here; on horseback, you go from the beaches towards the lagoons, where very rare birds nest and you can easily watch pink flamingos crossing. The horse also rules the local traditional festivals: in July, in Sedilo, fearless riders challenge each other in a furious descent towards the church of San Costantino; during the Carnival of Oristano, Sa Sartiglia hosts exciting equestrian tournaments in which men, women and children perform acrobatic stunts and compete to pierce the star while riding. The festival has been repeated with the same ceremonies since the Middle Ages and attracts thousands of tourists who, along with the inhabitants, support and cheer on the knights in elegant costumes of Sardinian and Spanish tradition, who ride on horses decorated with bows and colorful satins.