Archeologic ruins dated IV century  d.C. tellls that
probably that was its foundation period, we have 
nothing about the century after, Jupiter's door was 
destroyed in 1748. The town was founded after the 
bloody war ( 12th October 773 ) happened in the 
place where today it located S.Albino Abbey   
( V century ), between the winner Carlo Magno and
the looser longobard Desiderio. In the centuries after
until the Middle Ages it was centre of religious pilgrims,
as it 's set on the Francigena road centre from the XI
century of the monastic order of Mortariensi. In 1400 
Gian Galeazzo Visconti called it Beldiporto, just a 
touristic village of that period, where the court organized 
hunting trip into the beautiful forests. Its economy is
linked to Vigevano and Pavia, owned to Ludovico il Moro
between the  1467 and  1489, and has been overcame 
in the 1527 by Francesco Borbone. In 1706 it became 
chief town of lomellina with the annection of Sabaudo
State, after a lon battle of  Franco - Piemontese army. 
We have nothing today of the ancient ruins, but we can
see lots of churches and "basiliche" that inside contains 
important painting. The Gothic Cathedral  dedicated to 
Saint Laurence ( 1375-1380 ) is adorned with painting 
by Bernardo Lanino representing Madonna del Rosario
( 1515), and five pieces by Giulio Cesare Procaccini, 
" tavola dell'altare" and by Cerano.
To be mentioned is the wood  bas-relief of the crib 
( beginning of the  XV century ). Santa Croce Church, 
built in the 1596, is the same we can admire today and
we can find also works of Lanino, Bernardino Ferrari,
Moncalvo and  Palma il Giovane. S.Carlo church, built
under the folk will after the plague in 1630, preserved
the rest of Santa Veneranda Martire. As  memory of the
loose of Piemontesi against the Autrian army on the 
21st  may 1849, it has been built the obelisk in Sabbioni
in the 1852. Today it is an important point for the 
agricultural activities, with a good industrial network.
It is particularly a gastronomic centre for goose salami, 
patè and salami in general , which has the origin in the
century tradition of the Lomellina art of cooking where 
gooses is the most important.The last Sunday of 
September it takes place the Sagra del Salame d'Oca, 
in a great medioeval scenary, there is also "Palio dell' Oca"
between the six discrits of the village.
The  popular   snakes and ladders, with human pieces, into
the 50 squares, changes into an hability play for the archers
of the disticts, which designs the final winner.
The  Mortara flagwavers are very famous also in other part
of the country  for their hability and they helped Mortara to
be known for its historic " palio ".
During the events you can taste and buy  the typical 
gastronomic speciality of goose.  

Flag-wavers

Obelisk

Palio di Mortara

"Snakes and ladders"

Stall

Flag-wavers