The wonderful Portoscuso

Between the sea and the mountains of south-western Sardinia rises Portoscuso, once a fishing village, today welcomes millions of tourists thanks to its crystalline sea. Portoscuso has very ancient origins, traces of the passage of Phoenicians, Punic and Romans have been found. Portoscuso developed as an important commercial port around the Tonnara Suprano, built by Pietro Porta at the behest of the Spanish king Philip II, is the most fascinating place in the town. In the 16th century the first tuna and coral fishermen formed the first inhabited center around the tonnara. The town is very rich in interesting places rich in history. The marina and the promenade give us a beautiful view of the Adriatic sea. The 16th century Spanish tower, built in tuff and tacrite, was a lookout point to protect the sea which is still visible and open to visitors today. The ancient Ispiccas fountain was the town's resting place recently restored to its original luster. The Villa 'Su Marchesu' of the Sardinian nobleman Pes di Villamarina is located at the entrance of the town and was built in 1942 by the baron as a summer villa. Uncontaminated is the nature that surrounds the island starting from the beach of Porto Paglietto, the beach of the Caletta up to the pine forest that extends up to the promontory of Capaltano. Along the Via di Capaltano it is possible to admire the typical plants of the place. From a naturalistic point of view, the hamlet of Paringiano is home to two areas rich in maritime and lagoon evidence. On the coast you can still see the forts dating back to the Second World War where important finds of military archeology have been found today. In the last 50 years the economy of the city has developed from an economy based on agriculture and livestock to an economy based also on industry. The gastronomic specialties of the country can only be tuna and all the fish. There are several events that characterize the city, starting from the patronal feast that celebrates Santa Maria d'Itria who came from the sea, it is said that a cedar box with a statue inside got stuck in the fishermen's net who brought it ashore. . The statue belonged to the Spanish court that arrived in the coasts of Portoscuso after a shipwreck, the king decided to leave the painting as a gift to the inhabitants of the city. Every year the historical re-enactment of the arrival of the statue is staged, which is carried on the shoulder around the city.