Mortara

Mortara is the second city on the Lomellina after Vigevano. It was involved in a famous historical event in the middle of the Middle Ages: on 12 October 773 AD  the Franks, led by Charlemagne, clashed right on these fields in a bloody battle against the Lombards, led by King Desiderio. 

It is possible that the name of the town derives precisely from the consequences of that bloody clash:Mortis Ara, transformed over the centuries into Mortara, means "altar of death" in Latin. The undisputed winners of the battle were the Franks, who buried their fallen near theabbey of S. Albino. 

Today Mortara is known for its prominent role in agriculture and industry, but just go to the city in September to find yourself immersed in large historical parades that bear witness to its past. At the end of each summer, the goose salami festival is held in Mortara: a unique opportunity to enjoy this typical product but also to attend dances and street games. During the goose salami festival, the seven City wards of Mortara, one for each district of the city, also stage an unmissable game of the living goose: the teams advance along the board according to the participants' skills in archery.