CHIAVARI, DIOCESE of. - Diocese and city in the province of Genova, erected by Leone XIII on 3 Dec. 1892; it has an area of 570 sq. km., with 148 parishes, 242 diocesan priests and 44 regulars, and a seminary; it has approx. 100,000 inhabitants, all Catholics (1948); it is a suffragan of Genova. The first bishop was Francesco Vinelli (d. 26 Dec. 1910).
The Cathedral, Madonna dell'Orto, was built in 1613 and is a minor basilica; externally it is preceded by a columned portico by Poletti, while inside it contains frescoes by Baratta and paintings by Borzone and Merano. Other churches are those of S. Giovanni and S. Francesco.
Subject to the Genoese, after the discovery of the Fieschi conspiracy (1542), the city of C. suffered greatly. In the parish of Cogorno one may admire the monumental Gothic church of S. Salvatore, built by Innocenzo IV, Fieschi, around 1250. Near the church are the remains of the Fieschi palace (13th cent.).