Savona (; lij, Sann-a ) is a seaport and ''

comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...

'' in the west part of the northern Italian region of

Liguria Liguria (; lij, Ligûria ; french: Ligurie) is a Regions of Italy, region of north-western Italy; its Capital city, capital is Genoa. Its territory is crossed by the Alps and the Apennine Mountains, Apennines Mountain chain, mountain range and is ...

, capital of the

Province of Savona The province of Savona ( it, provincia di Savona; Ligurian: ''provinsa de Sann-a'') is a province in the Liguria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Savona, which has a population of 61,219 inhabitants. The province has a total populatio ...

, in the Riviera di Ponente on the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ea ...

. Savona used to be one of the chief seats of the Italian iron industry, having iron-works and foundries, shipbuilding, railway workshops, engineering shops, and a brass foundry. One of the most celebrated former inhabitants of Savona was the navigator

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus * lij, Cristoffa C(or)ombo * es, link=no, Cristóbal Colón * pt, Cristóvão Colombo * ca, Cristòfor (or ) * la, Christophorus Columbus. (; born between 25 August and 31 October 1451, died 20 May 1506) was a ...

, who farmed land in the area while chronicling his journeys. 'Columbus's house', a cottage situated in the Savona hills, lay between vegetable crops and fruit trees. It is one of several residences in Liguria associated with Columbus.

History

Inhabited in ancient times by Ligures tribes, it came under

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

influence in 180 BC, after the

Punic wars The Punic Wars were a series of wars between 264 and 146BC fought between Roman Republic, Rome and Ancient Carthage, Carthage. Three conflicts between these states took place on both land and sea across the western Mediterranean region and i ...

in which the city had been allied to

Carthage Carthage was the capital city of Ancient Carthage, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classi ...

. At the fall of the

Western Roman Empire The Western Roman Empire comprised the western provinces of the Roman Empire at any time during which they were administered by a separate independent Imperial court; in particular, this term is used in historiography to describe the period fr ...

, it passed under Lombard rule in 641 AD (being destroyed in the attack) after a short period as an

Ostrogoth The Ostrogoths ( la, Ostrogothi, Austrogothi) were a Roman-era Germanic people. In the 5th century, they followed the Visigoths in creating one of the two great Gothic kingdoms within the Roman Empire, based upon the large Gothic populations who ...

and then

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...

possession. Later it recovered as county seat in the

Carolingian Empire The Carolingian Empire (800–888) was a large Frankish-dominated empire in western and central Europe during the Early Middle Ages. It was ruled by the Carolingian dynasty, which had ruled as kings of the Franks since 751 and as kings of the Lom ...

. In the 10th century its bishops were counts of Savona, but later the countship passed to the marquesses of Montferrat (981) and afterwards to the marquesses

Del Vasto Del, or nabla, is an operator used in mathematics (particularly in vector calculus) as a vector differential operator, usually represented by the nabla symbol ∇. When applied to a function defined on a one-dimensional domain, it denotes t ...

(1084). After a long struggle against the

Saracens file:Erhard Reuwich Sarazenen 1486.png, upright 1.5, Late 15th-century Germany in the Middle Ages, German woodcut depicting Saracens Saracen ( ) was a term used in the early centuries, both in Greek language, Greek and Latin writings, to refer ...

, Savona acquired independence in the 11th century, becoming a free municipality allied with the Emperor. Savona was the center of religious culture (13th to 16th centuries) due to the work of two important monasteries: Dominican and Franciscan. Subsequently, it fought against

Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the List of cities in Italy, sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian ce ...

before being definitively conquered in 1528. The Genoese destroyed the upper town and buried the port. It then shared the fortunes of the Republic of Genoa until

Napoleonic Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

times. In 1809 the city received Pope

Pius VII Pope Pius VII ( it, Pio VII; born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti; 14 August 1742 – 20 August 1823), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 14 March 1800 to his death in August 1823. Chiaramonti was also a m ...

, prisoner of Napoleon Bonaparte, for a few years. Between April and mid-May 1800, Austrian forces besieged the city while a small British naval force maintained a blockade; the fortress surrendered on 15 May. Subsequently, Savona was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont (1815). Eventually, it became part of unified Italy.

Main sights

Churches

*The ''Cattedrale dell'Assunta'' (Cathedral of the Assumption), built after Genoese demolition of the old cathedral. It kept the relics of Saint Valentine. *The ''Cappella Sistina'' (Sistine Chapel), adjacent to the cathedral and built 1480–1483, it containing the Mausoleum erected by the Della Rovere

Pope Sixtus IV Pope Sixtus IV ( it, Sisto IV: 21 July 1414 – 12 August 1484), born Francesco della Rovere, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 August 1471 to his death in August 1484. His accomplishments as pope include ...

to honor his parents, Leonardo Della Rovere and Luchina Monleone. The construction was commissioned by Giovanni D'Aria and his brother Michele. The chapel is architecturally similar to the chapel dedicated to the Cardinal Pietro Riario in the Basilica of the

Santi Apostoli, Rome Santi Dodici Apostoli (Church of the Twelve Holy Apostles; la, SS. Duodecim Apostolorum), commonly known simply as Santi Apostoli, is a 6th-century Roman Catholic parish and titular church and minor basilica in Rome, Italy, dedicated originall ...

. After years of deterioration, in 1765-1767 a reconstruction was ordered by the Genovese Doge Francesco Maria Della Rovere. This updated the chapel in a

Rococo Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...

style, with ceiling painted by

Paolo Gerolamo Brusco Paolo Gerolamo Brusco or Girolamo Brusco (8 June 1742 – 30 March 1820) was a prolific Italian painter active in Liguria. He was also nicknamed ''Bruschetto''. Biography Born in Savona, his father and one of his brothers were employed in ...

. The cathedral has a noteworthy 16th-century carved wooden choir seats. *The church of ''Nostra Signora di Castello'' (Our Lady of the Castle) has a large altarpiece by

Vincenzo Foppa Vincenzo Foppa ( – ) was an Italian painter from the Renaissance period. While few of his works survive, he was an esteemed and influential painter during his time and is considered the preeminent leader of the Early Lombard School. He spent hi ...

and Ludovico Brea painted in 1490. *The

Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Misericordia The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Misericordia is a church and surrounding buildings located some six kilometers from the center of Savona, Liguria, northern Italy. It is built on the site commemorating the apparition of the Virgin Mary to t ...

(Our Lady of Mercy).

Towers and fortress

*The ''Torre Leon Pancaldo'' (Leon Pancaldo Tower), built in the 14th century and also known as "Torretta", is the symbol of the town. *The ''Torre del Brandale'' (Brandale Tower), also known as ''Campanassa'' (Commune tower, where the freedom declaration of Savona was signed in 1191) and towers Corsi and Riario. *The Priamar fortress, built by the Genoese in 1542 after their conquest of Savona, on the area of the old cathedral and old city and later used as a prison and military prison. In 1830-1831 Giuseppe Mazzini was imprisoned in the fortress and he "dreams" the "Giovine Italia". Inside the fortress there is the Museum Centre of Priamar.

Palaces and others

* The ''Palazzo Della Rovere'' (Della Rovere Palace), built by Cardinal Giulio della Rovere (future

Pope Julius II Pope Julius II ( la, Iulius II; it, Giulio II; born Giuliano della Rovere; 5 December 144321 February 1513) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1503 to his death in February 1513. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope or th ...

) and designed by

Giuliano da Sangallo Giuliano da Sangallo (c. 1445 – 1516) was an Italian sculptor, architect and military engineer active during the Italian Renaissance. He is known primarily for being the favored architect of Lorenzo de' Medici, his patron. In this role, Giulia ...

as a university. * The ''Palazzo Gavotti'' (Gavotti Palace), built in the 15th century. Inside the palace there is the Art Museum of Palazzo Gavotti that contains the Pinacoteca of Savona, the artwork of ''Fondazione Museo di Arte Contemporanea Milena Milani in memoria di Carlo Cardazzo'' and the Ceramic Museum. * The ''Palazzo Delle Piane'' (Delle Piane Palace), an important building in Liberty style of Savona. * The Villa Zanelli, an important Liberty-style former residence and hospital. * In neighbourhood of Savona remains a house documented as property of Domenico Colombo, father of Christopher Columbus, where they lived for many years (Christopher Columbus lived in Savona for much of his youth). * The ''War Memorial'', with a marble base and bronze figures, was created by sculptor Luigi Venzano. It was inaugurated on 18 September 1927 and since then every day at 18:00 in Piazza Goffredo Mameli the fallen of all wars are commemorated with 21 tolls of the bell, one for each letter of the Italian alphabet: during the tolling traffic and pedestrians stop as a sign of respect.

Geography

The town is situated west of

and circa (east) of

Nice Nice ( , ; Niçard: , classical norm, or , nonstandard, ; it, Nizza ; lij, Nissa; grc, Νίκαια; la, Nicaea) is the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative c ...

, in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, on the western

Italian Riviera The Italian Riviera or Ligurian Riviera ( it, Riviera ligure; lij, Rivêa lìgure) is the narrow coastal strip in Italy which lies between the Ligurian Sea and the mountain chain formed by the Maritime Alps and the Apennines. Longitudinall ...

, between the

Ligurian Sea The Ligurian Sea ( it, Mar Ligure; french: Mer Ligurienne; lij, Mâ Ligure) is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea. It lies between the Italian Riviera (Liguria) and the island of Corsica. The sea is thought to have been named after the ancient L ...

and the Ligurian Alps.

Climate

Savona has a borderline humid subtropical (''Cfa'') and

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...

(''Csa''). The average yearly temperature is around during the day and at night. In the coldest months: January, February and December, the average temperature is during the day and at night. In the warmest month – July and August – the average temperature is during the day and at night. Generally, a typical summer season lasts about 4 to 6 months, from May/June to September/October. The daily temperature range is limited, with an average range of about 7 °C (13 °F) between high and low temperatures. Rain occurs mainly in autumn, the summers being generally dry. Sunshine hours total above 2,097 per year, from an average 4 hours of sunshine duration per day in winter to average 9 hours in summer. Savona usually sees

snow Snow comprises individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes. It consists of frozen crystalline water throughout ...

once or twice per year.

Government

People

Fortezza del Priamar dalle alture Savonesi

* Paolo Boselli (1838–1932),

Prime Minister of Italy The Prime Minister of Italy, officially the President of the Council of Ministers ( it, link=no, Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri), is the head of government of the Italian Republic. The office of president of the Council of Ministers is ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

Gianni Baget Bozzo Gianni Baget Bozzo (8 March 1925 – 8 May 2009) was an Italian Catholic priest and politician. Baget Bozzo was born in Savona and raised in Genoa where he graduated in law. At one-time Christian-Democrat activist, in 1984 he was elected at ...

(born 1925), priest and politician * Susanna Bonfiglio (born 1974), basketball player *

Carlo Aonzo Carlo is a given name. It is an Italian form of Charles. It can refer to: *Carlo (name) *Monte Carlo *Carlingford, New South Wales, a suburb in north-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia *A satirical song written by Dafydd Iwan about Prince Char ...

(born 1967), classical mandolinist and composer * Giacomo Boselli (1744-1808), Rococo-period sculptor of ceramics *

Elenoire Casalegno Elenoire Casalegno (; born 28 May 1976) is an Italian television presenter. Life and career Born in Savona, in 1994 Casalegno started her career at 17 years old as a runway model. In 1994, after winning the beauty contest Look of the Year, she ...

(born 1976), actress and TV host *

Luis Fernando Centi Luis Fernando Centi (born 16 September 1976) is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder. He is of Colombian descent because his mother is from Colombia. Club career Centi was signed by Ascoli Calcio 1898 Ascoli Calcio 1898 F.C., co ...

(born 1976), footballer *

Gabriello Chiabrera Gabriello Chiabrera (; 18 June 155214 October 1638) was an Italian poet, sometimes called the Italian Pindar. Endnote: The best editions of Chiabrera are those of Rome (1718, 3 vols. 8vo); of Venice (1731, 4 vols. 8vo); of Leghorn (1781, 5 vols., ...

(1552–1638), poet *

(c. 1450–1506), explorer * Enrico Cucchi (1965–1996), footballer *

Renato Dossena Renato Dossena (born 14 April 1987) is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. Career Born in Savona, Liguria, Dossena started his career with Ligurian club Genoa but was released in 2002; in the 2001–02 season Dossena and Danilo Ru ...

(born 1987), footballer *

Giulia Dotta Giulia Dotta (born 31 January 1992) is an Italian dancer and choreographer. She started dancing from an early age specialising in latin and ballroom dance and has had competition experience at both national and international levels. She is best k ...

(born 1992), professional dancer *

Fabio Fazio Fabio Fazio (; born 30 November 1964) is an Italian television presenter. After debuting in 1982, he presented many TV programs, including ''Quelli che... il Calcio'', ''Vieni via con me'' and ''Quello che (non) ho''. Since 2003, he presents the ...

(born 1964), TV host * Giuseppe Ferrerio (1554–1610), Roman Catholic archbishop *

Luca Ferro Luca Ferro (born 28 August 1978 in Savona) is an Italian footballer who plays for Swiss club Yverdon-Sport FC as a goalkeeper. He has played in Serie B and the Swiss Challenge League. He made his debut in the Swiss Super League on 23 April 2009 ...

(born 1978), footballer *

Nando Gazzolo Ferdinando "Nando" Gazzolo (16 October 1928 – 16 November 2015) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Born in Savona, the son of the actor and voice actor Lauro Gazzolo and EIAR radio announcer Aida Ottaviani Piccolo, Gazzolo debuted ...

(1928-2015), actor *

Orazio Grassi Orazio Grassi, S.J. (b. Savona 1 May 1583 – d. Rome 23 July 1654), was an Italian Jesuit priest, who is best noted as a mathematician, astronomer and architect. He was one of the authors in controversy with Galileo Galilei on the nature of come ...

(1583-1654), astronomer *

Bartolomeo Guidobono Bartolomeo Guidobono (1654–1709) was an Italian painter known for his scenes with angelic looking figures bathing in soft lighting, which show the influence of Correggio. His elegant and graceful style was very popular in Genoa.M. Newcome. "Gui ...

(1654–1709), painter *

Domenico Guidobono Domenico Guidobono (1668-1746) was an Italian painter of easel paintings and frescoes, who together with his brother Bartolomeo Guidobono was one of the principal decorative painters active in Liguria and Piedmont in the late 17th and first ha ...

(1668-1746), painter *

(Albisola 1443–1513) *

Michele Marcolini Michele Marcolini (born 2 October 1975) is an Italian football coach and former footballer, who played as a midfielder. He is currently the manager of the Malta national football team. Club career A Torino youth system product, Marcolini made hi ...

(born 1975), footballer * Maria Christina of Naples and Sicily (1779–1849), Queen of Sardinia, died in Savona *

Leon Pancaldo Leon Pancaldo, also called Leone Pancaldo (1488 or 1490 – 1538) was a Genoese explorer. Pancaldo was born in Savona in 1488 or 1490. He participated in the first circumnavigation of the globe led by Ferdinand Magellan. He was captured by the P ...

(1488 or 1490–1538), explorer *

Christian Panucci Christian Panucci (; born 12 April 1973) is an Italian former association football, footballer and Manager (association football), manager. In his playing career he played as a Defender (association football), defender. A versatile footballer, he ...

(born 1973), footballer *

Sandro Pertini Alessandro "Sandro" Pertini (; 25 September 1896 – 24 February 1990) was an Italian socialist politician who served as the president of Italy from 1978 to 1985. Early life Born in Stella (Province of Savona) as the son of a wealthy landown ...

(1896 – 1990) President of the Italian Republic * Daniela Poggi (born 1956), actress *

Girolamo Riario Girolamo Riario (1443 – 14 April 1488) was Lord of Imola (from 1473) and Forlì (from 1480). He served as Captain General of the Church under his uncle Pope Sixtus IV. He took part in the 1478 Pazzi conspiracy against the Medici, and was assas ...

(1443–1488), lord of Imola and Forlì and one of the plotters behind the 1478 Pazzi Conspiracy * Pietro Riario (1447–1474), cardinal and Papal diplomat *

Della Rovere The House of Della Rovere (; literally "of the oak tree") was a noble family Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estat ...

noble family that flourished in the 15th century *

Annalisa Scarrone Annalisa Scarrone (born 5 August 1985) better known as simply Annalisa or Nali, is an Italian singer-songwriter, Record producer and TV personality. After being part of two bands, ''Elaphe Guttata'' and ''leNoire'' (Ex Malvasia), she became famou ...

(born 5 August 1985), singer and songwriter * Renata Scotto (born 1934), opera singer *

Stephan El Shaarawy Stephan El Shaarawy (born 27 October 1992) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Roma and the Italy national team. He is nicknamed ''Il Faraone'' (The Pharaoh), as his father is Egyptian. El Shaarawy began his ...

(born 1992), footballer *

(Pecorile 1414 – 1484) *

Davide Biale Davide Biale (born 5 April 1994), better known by his online alias Davie504, is an Italian musician and YouTuber. He is best known for playing bass guitar, primarily with a slapping technique, and creating several covers and viral videos. Car ...

(born 5 April 1994), YouTube personality and bassist

Events

* The ''Carnival'', with a parade in the centre of the town, the typical costume of Savona is Cicciulin. * The ''Patron saint's festival of Nostra Signora della Misericordia'', on 18 March. * The ''Holy Friday'', with a spectacular procession in streets of the city which takes place every two years. * The ''Santa Lucia fair'' in the central street of Via Paleocapa on 13 December. * The ''Confuoco'' (in local dialect ''U Confeugu''), it takes place the last Sunday before Christmas in the square of Sisto IV.

Twin towns and sister cities

Savona is twinned with: * Villingen-Schwenningen,

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Saona Saona Island ( es, Isla Saona) is a 110 square kilometer tropical island located off the south-east coast in Dominican Republic's La Altagracia province. It is a government-protected nature reserve and is part of '' Parque Nacional Cotubanamá''. ...

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...

Bayamo Bayamo is the capital city of the Granma Province of Cuba and one of the largest cities in the Oriente region. Overview The community of Bayamo lies on a plain by the Bayamo River. It is affected by the violent Bayamo wind. One of the most ...

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

Mariupol Mariupol (, ; uk, Маріу́поль ; russian: Мариу́поль) is a city in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. It is situated on the northern coast (Pryazovia) of the Sea of Azov, at the mouth of the Kalmius River. Prior to the 2022 Russian i ...

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

References

Sources

External links

Genoa Airport :: What to see :: VarazzeSavona WebConfrateernita di S. Domenico
{{Province of Savona Cities and towns in Liguria Coastal towns in Liguria Municipalities of the Province of Savona Italian Riviera Mediterranean port cities and towns in Italy Baroque architecture in Liguria