Sagra del Salame d'Oca di Mortara e Palio dell'Oca

The most delicious festival in Lomellina

As the last Sunday of September approaches, Mortara—a town in the province of Pavia that has always been the gastronomic capital of Lomellina—prepares for its most anticipated event: the Sagra del Salame d'Oca (Goose Salami Festival). The 2026 edition will be the 59th, a testament to a tradition rooted in the 1960s that draws thousands of visitors to the city each year from all over Lombardy and beyond.

IGP Goose Salami of Mortara

The undisputed star is the IGP Goose Salami of Mortara, a unique cured sausage made from goose and pork meat, encased in the animal's skin and slowly cooked. It is an iconic product of Lomellina, a land of rice paddies and farms, recognized with the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). During the festival, you can taste it at the stalls in the historic center, where a complete menu—appetizer, first course, second course, and dessert—is served, accompanied by wines from the Oltrepò Pavese region.

The Renaissance Historical Procession

The most spectacular moment is the historical parade on Sunday afternoon: over four to five hundred participants in late 15th-century Renaissance costumes parade through the city streets, accompanied by flag-throwers and the rolling of drums. The procession evokes the era when Mortara was the hunting reserve of the Duke of Milan, Ludovico il Moro Sforza, and his wife Beatrice d'Este, whose figures grandly close the parade.

The Palio dell'Oca and the Waterfowl Exhibition

The heart of the competition is the Palio dell'Oca, an archery challenge between the city's districts inspired by the Game of the Goose: a tournament that awards a painted banner to the winning district. Also not to be missed is the Provincial Waterfowl Exhibition, an exhibition featuring over two hundred geese and ducks, the true symbol of the region's poultry farming heritage. The program is rounded out by the National Poetry Prize «Città di Mortara», gatherings of vintage cars and motorcycles, and window display contests.

Organized by the Festival Organizing Committee with the support of the Municipality of Mortara, the event offers free admission and represents one of the most authentic gatherings on the Lombard festival calendar.