 oristano , (), is a city and comune, capital of the province of oristano, in the central-western part of the island of sardinia, italy. it is located in the northern part of campidano plain. oristano was established as the provincial capital on 16 july 1974. , the city had 32,165 inhabitants.all demographics and other statistics: national institute of statistics (italy) (istat). the economy of oristano is mainly based on services, agriculture, tourism and small industries. ==history== thumb||left|tower of the piazza mannu oristano was previously known by the byzantines as aristanis, and founded close to the phoenician settlement of othoca (now santa giusta). it acquired importance in 1070, when, reputedly as a result of the frequent saracen attacks, archbishop torcotorio made it the seat of the bishopric, which was previously in the nearby coastal town of tharros. it also became capital of the giudicato ("judiciary", equivalent to a duchy or kingdom) of arborea. consequently, fortifications were designed, but the building thereof went on until judge mariano ii rose to power. in medieval times oristano vied for power over the whole island of sardinia, and therefore waged wars against the other sardinian kingdoms. which culminated in the attempt to conquer the whole island during the reign (1347â75) of mariano iv and that of his daughter eleanor (1375â1404). the giudicato of arborea hel
Cities_and_towns_in_Sardinia Communes_of_the_Province_of_Oristano Oristano