Turris Lybisonis, six centuries of the Roman colony's history

Turris Lybisonis: the current Porto Torres is the most important locality among those founded by The Romans, during their permanence in the island, among the I century B.C. and the V century A.D. The roman colony (of which many testimonies are conserved in the nearby Antiquarium Turritano and in the Museo Archelogico Nazionale “Sanna”- the National Archaeological Museum “Sanna”- of Sassari), became soon an important intermediate call for ships continuing towards West. It knew its splendors during the II and III centuries A.D. ( many remains have been found, coming from the far Persia), before an unexpected crisis that let it almost in obscurity.

The modern town has been constructed in the following ages around and above the ruins of Turris Lybisonis, partially still visitable since the dynamite, which have been used between the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century in the rail works, has unfortunately destroyed a large area. Many are the sites which are today submerged under modern buildings. The importance of this port station is still the same: it is not by accident that this port is still today one of the busiest Italian ports. In the archaeological area there is an important thermal zone dated back to the II century A.D. (which is improperly called Palazzo Re Barbaro) , but you may also visit the ruins of the thermal baths of Pallottino and Maetzke and a few hundred meters away, you may also visit a Roman bridge of the I century A.D., that allowed to cross the Mannu river. It is one of the most beautiful and better preserved among those still existing in Italy, together with those of Ascoli Piceno and Rimini. Its peculiarity is an evident slope, which makes it original. The Municipality is planning to buy another area, located between the archeological area and the commercial port: according to the scholars a huge amphitheatre could be hidden above an hill.