Palio della Santa Croce of Mortara

Mortara in the Sforza Renaissance

The Palio della Santa Croce is the patronal festival of Mortara (Province of Pavia), in the heart of Lomellina. The event commemorates the period of Sforza splendor, set in the Duchy of Milan between 1492 and 1496, during the time of Ludovico il Moro and Beatrice d'Este. A grand historical pageant with about 400 costumed participants brings the ducal court back to life, with historically accurate reconstructions.

The challenge between the six districts

The heart of the festival is the challenge between the six districts of the city — Torre, Braide, San Dionigi, Il Moro, Sant'Albino, and San Cassiano — who compete in an archery contest in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II to win the palio. The competition follows the mechanism of a "living game of the goose": districts in a disadvantaged position can challenge those in the lead, swapping positions in case of victory, in a crescendo of tension and spectacle.

Between faith, history, and gastronomy

The Palio is linked to the religious tradition of the Holy Cross, with Mass and the blessing of the palio at the Abbey of Santa Croce. Alongside the reenactment, there are food stalls offering Lomellina specialties and entertainment for children. A festival that intertwines devotion, historical memory, and civic identity, capable of attracting a large audience to Mortara from all over the province of Pavia.