Architectural: The facade has neoclassical forms with a subdivision in two orders without pediment in the upper part. The main portal with architrave is flanked on the sides by the two secondary entrances also with architraves. In the second order there are three niches with statues. the bell tower is at the back on the left side of the church.
History: The place of worship was first mentioned in 1145, remembered as being associated with the presbytery of the Holy Cross in Mortara and remained so until 1263. In 1325, according to the changed ecclesiastical jurisdiction, it became part of the diocese of Alba and this caused a contradiction between Mortara and Alba over who would be the beneficiary of the tithe. In 1474 the matter was resolved with the assignment of the church to the presbytery of Santa Maria Nova in Asti, linked to the Lateran canons.
Monsignor Vincenzo Marino's pastoral visit in 1576 described it as inadequate for the needs of the population. Other pastoral visits followed in 1577 and 1644. In 1648, Giovanni Battista Farriano enriched the altar of the Most Holy Rosary with his frescoes.
In the second half of the seventeenth century and at the beginning of the following century, the building was the subject of two major restoration operations, during which it was also almost completely rebuilt. Around 1729, only the bell tower was built on a project by Francesco Gallo, while the rest of the structure was still in a precarious state. The situation was rectified by the intervention of Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy and by the middle of the century the new church was almost complete. When the work was finished, the altars were assigned to different communities and companies and were also decorated with polychrome stucco.
In 1816 the building was again restored and modified in its forms. The following year, after the phase of the Napoleonic suppression, the church was reincorporated into the Diocese of Alba. The wooden and fabric decorations of the altar canopy were made by the sculptor Conti and the weaver Colombier. In 1859 a new renovation was carried out and in 1878 the interiors were enriched with other decorations. The organ was built in 1887. The last cycle of works was carried out in the 1950s.
This church was dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul (Santi PIETRO e PAOLO), also known as the "Princes of the Apostles". Their common feast day in the calendar of saints is June 29th.
* Simon, nicknamed Peter (rock), was a fisherman on the Sea of Genesareth when he – together with his brother Andrew – was called by Jesus Christ to be the "fisher of men". According to Catholic understanding, he is the supreme apostle, and the two millennia-long line of popes – currently Francis – are his successors. On statues and paintings Peter is almost always depicted with two keys in his hand, this attribute refers to the Bible passage in Matthew: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; what you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and what you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (chapter 16, verse 19).
* Paul was initially an opponent of the Christian movement and was not called to the apostle ministry like the other apostles by Jesus Christ during his lifetime, but was converted later with the famous "Damascus experience". His attribute is the sword with which he was executed. According to the Roman law of the time, such a sentence was a “privilege” (quick death and not associated with a long, agonizing agony like other types of execution) that the citizens of Rome were entitled to.
Translated by Google •
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