CHIAVENNA (anc. Clavenna), a town of Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Sondrio, 17m. by rail north of Colico, which lies at the north end of the Lake of Como. Pop. (1921) 3,201 (town) ; 4,699 (commune). It is on the right bank of the Mera, at the mouth of the Val Bregaglia, through which the road to the Maloja pass and the Engadine runs to the east. This line was followed by a Roman road, which took the Julier route to Coire (anc. Curia). The Spliigen route, also used by the Romans, runs north from Chiavenna to Coire : the modern road was constructed by the Austrians in 1819-21. Chiavenna's ruined castle was the seat of the counts who ruled the valley from the time of the Goths till 1194, when the district was handed over to the bishops of Coire. In the 14th century the Visconti, as masters of the Valtel lina, bought the "county" of Chiavenna from the bishop of Coire; but it was taken by the canton of the Grisons in 1525, and the castle dismantled. In 1797 Chiavenna became part of the Cisalpine republic, and thenceforward followed the fortunes of Lombardy. Chiavenna has cotton factories and breweries, and is a depot for the wine of the district owing to the coolness of the caves which are used as cellars.