SAVO'NA, an administrative division, province, and town of the Sardinian States. The administrative division couteins the provinces of Acqui, Albenga, and Savona. The province of Acqui, which lies north of the Ligurian Apennines, was formerly included in the administrative division of Aleasandia. It is described in a separate article. [Acqus] The rest of the administrative division lies between the Apennines and the Gulf of Genoa ; it was formerly included In the duchy of Genoa, and now forms the provinces of Albenga and Savona. The province of Albenga, the most western part, lies between the province of Savona and the administrative division of Nizza ; it forms the subject of a separate article. [Autsso.a.] The area and population of the administrative division and its three provinces are as follows The province of Savona is bounded N.E. by the province of Genoa, S.W. by that of Albenga, S.E. by the Mediterrauean, and N.W. by the Apennines. The soil partakes of the general character of the western Riviera of Genoa, and produces abundance of fruit, oil, and wine. The climate is somewhat cold in winter. The Apennines near Savona are lower than the rest of the Ligurian Apennines, being only 1500 feet above the sea.
The province of Savona is divided into 38 communes. The capital is Savona, a walled town of 15,500 inhabitants, situated on the sea coast, about 30 miles S.W. from Genoa. It is the largest town along the western Riviera between Genoa and Nice. The narrow well-paved streets are frequented by an active busy people. The town carries oc a considerable trade; the harbour, which was once good, was partly filled np by the Genoese in 1525-28, through commercial jealousy; it is still very safe, but only fit for vessels of 200 toms Savona was made a bonding port for foreign goods and merchandise of all kinds except tobacco, in 1850. Savona is the residence of many noble and
other substantial proprietors of the surrounding country ; it contains some good palaces and several fine churches, among others a cathedra] built in 1604, the former cathedral, which had been raised by Pops Julius IL, when bishop of Savona, having been destroyed to make room for the citadel. The present cathedral is adorned with valuable paintings and sculptures. Near the cathedral is the Sistine chapel founded by Popo Sixtus IV., uncle of Julius II., as a burial place foe his family. In the Dominican church are an 'Adoration of the Magi, and another painting by Albert Durer ; and a magnificent 'Nativity by Antonio Semini. The sanctuary of La-Madonna di Savona, situates: 5 miles north-west of the town, among the Apennine on the road is Mondovi in Piedmont, has also some good paintings. Savona is the birth-place of Chiabrera, one of the best Italian lyric, poets. His toms is seen in the church of San-Giacomo.
Altsissola a pretty town on the sea-shore, between Savona an Genoa, 3500 inhabitants, and several handsome villas of the Genoese nobility. Pope Julius IL was born at Albissola. Noli, z small town In a picturesque situation near the sea. Cairo, in th, Apennines., has 3400 inhabitants. Near Cairo is the village o Alillesimo, famous in the history of Bonaparte's first Italian campaign in 1796.