A fishing village arose in the southern part of the Gulf of Oristano, in an extremely sheltered position, at the base of the 'horn-shaped' piece of land that ends at Capo San Marco. The typical dwellings of the small village, in the territory of Terralba, stretches as far as the pine forest of the salt water lagoon of Marceddì, which originated from the marine inlet. The internal part of the lagoon, separated by a small barrage, is a pond that goes by the name of Stagno di San Giovanni. The rivulets of Rio Mogoro and Rio Mannu enter here, making the water less brackish.
The lagoon and the pond were once ancient landing places of the flourishing Phoenician-Punic settlement of Neapolis, which used to be an important Mediterranean 'market', founded by the Phoenicians, and then a Carthaginian colony (6th century BC), the remains of which are still visible. Now the habitat of aquatic birds that nest on the banks covered in lake vegetation: you can make pleasant encounters with purple herons, coots, mallards and western swamphens amidst the reed beds.
A few kilometres away, the ancient town of Tharros is an archaeological site that tells the story of prehistoric times and the history of Sardinia.
Marceddì was also the stage of pirate incursions: the Spanish Torre Vecchia (16th-17th centuries), whose remains are still visible on the edges of the pond, was built to protect it from the attacks.
South of the lagoon lies the Costa Verde with its gems: Pistis, Torre dei Corsari, Marina di Arbus, Piscinas and Scivu. Going north there is the protected marine area of the Peninsula of Sinis: San Giovanni di Sinis, Maimoni, Is Arutas and Mari Ermi.
Fondazione Sardegna Film Commission
Via Malta 63 — 09124 Cagliari
Phone: +39 070 2041961
Email: filmcommission@regione.sardegna.it
