Mortara was initially within the county of Lomello. In 1164, Frederick I placed it under the dominion of Pavia and it thus became the seat of the podestà. It was then taken by the Visconti and later on by the Sforza family of Milan. Gian Galeazzo Visconti granted the town the authorisation to change its name into Beldiporto, which remained so until 1402. In the following centuries, it fell under the domain of Gian Giacomo Trivulzio of Obicino Caccia. With the return of the Sforza family, the town was subdued to Matteo Beccaria of San Gaudenzio and liberated in 1580. It became a marquisate in 1613, during the Spanish rule (1535-1706). In 1707, Victor Amadeus (Vittorio Amedeo) II of Savoy conquered Mortara and proclaimed it a royal town and the capital of the province of Lomellina. With the Unification of Italy, it became part of the province of Pavia Places of interest: • Basilica of SAN LORENZO, 14th and 15th century • Church of Santa Croce • Abbey of SANT’ALBINO, 5TH century • Sanctuary of SANTA MARIA DEL CAMPO • City Museum / Museo Civico • Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions of the Lomellina /Museo di Lomellina di Arti e Tradizioni Popolari