Savona

Savona, a seaport of Northern Italy, on the Gulf of Genoa, by rail 26 miles S. by W. of the city of that name and 91 SSE. of Turin. A handsome modern town embowered in orange-groves, it has a Renaissance cathedral (1589-1604), with the tomb of Pope Sixtus IV.; a castle (1542), now used as a prison, in which Mazzini was confined in 1830-31; the Della Rovere Palace, a picture-gallery, a marine institute, &c. The industries embrace ironworks, potteries, glass-works, tanneries, and brick-yards. Coal, wheat, and iron are imported, and chestnut staves and pottery exported. A total of 642,000 tons (510,000 British) enters every year. Pop. 24,481. The poet Chiabrera was born here. The history of Savona has been a long struggle against its successful rival Genoa, who in the 16th century filled up its harbour; it was only opened again in 1815.