The first written record of Pulchra Rada (the ancient name for San Mauro, which in Latin means "beautiful beach and/or port" - on the Po river) dates from 4 May 991.[3] On that day Anselmo (at the time the ruler of Montferrat) gave the order to rebuild a Benedictine monastery, erected originally above a pre-existing ancient Roman settlement, that had been destroyed by a Saracen invasion.