Savona, City of the Popes: The History of the Della Rovere Family
A family of weavers who reached the papal throne
Savona proudly bears an unusual title for a seaside city: "City of Popes." Not because of a single passing pontiff, but because it was the birthplace of one of the most influential families of the Italian Renaissance: the della Rovere family. From a family of modest means—the founder Leonardo was an accimator panni , a textile worker—came two popes who would change the face of Rome and Western art: Sixtus IV and Julius II.
Sixtus IV: the pope who created the Sistine Chapel
The Ligurian origins
Francesco della Rovere was born in 1414 in Celle Ligure, near Savona, to a family of modest origins. He entered the Franciscan Order at a very young age, studied theology and philosophy, and embarked on a brilliant ecclesiastical career that led to his election as Pope Sixtus IV in 1471.
The artistic and architectural legacy
His pontificate, which lasted thirteen years, was marked by extraordinary artistic patronage. He is responsible for the creation of the Sistine Chapel , which still bears his name today, as well as the revival of the Vatican Apostolic Library and important urban planning projects in Rome, such as the Sisto Bridge.
The never forgotten bond with Savona
Despite his rise to Rome, Sixtus IV never forgot his hometown: the cathedral of Savona still preserves a chapel dedicated to him, erected as a tomb for his parents—a gesture that testifies to the deep bond between the pope and his native land.
Julius II: the "warrior pope" and patron of Michelangelo
The nephew who followed in his uncle's footsteps
Giuliano della Rovere, nephew of Sixtus IV, was born in Albisola, on the outskirts of Savona, in 1443. Thanks to the influence of his uncle the pope, his ecclesiastical career was very rapid: archbishop, cardinal, and finally, in 1503, elected pope with the name of Julius II .
Michelangelo's patron
Julius II is one of the most important figures in the history of art: it was he who commissioned Michelangelo Buonarroti to decorate the vault of the Sistine Chapel, an absolute masterpiece of the Renaissance, as well as entrusting him with the design of his own funerary monument.
The Renaissance palace in Savona
Julius II also left a tangible mark on his hometown: in 1494 he built the Palazzo della Rovere (now also known as Palazzo Santa Chiara), designed by the architect Giuliano da Sangallo—one of the most important Renaissance buildings in all of Liguria, which still today contrasts elegantly with the medieval fabric of the historic center.
Discover the Della Rovere family's footsteps in Savona
The Rovere Palace
A Renaissance masterpiece designed by Giuliano da Sangallo, it represents one of the greatest architectural expressions of the period in the entire region.
The Cathedral and Oratory of Our Lady of Castello
Inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and in the Oratory of Our Lady of Castello you can admire works commissioned by the family, including the precious Polittico della Rovere , created by Vincenzo Foppa and Ludovico Brea on commission from Julius II.
The Savona refuge of a fleeing pope
Few people know that, even before becoming pope, Giuliano della Rovere found a safe haven in Savona: in 1494, fleeing Rome after the clash with his rival Alexander VI, he embarked for his hometown before continuing on to France—an episode that inextricably links the personal history of the future Julius II to the port of Savona.
A legacy that spans the centuries
The story of the della Rovere family tells more than just two papal biographies: it tells how a provincial city, seemingly far from the great centers of Renaissance power, directly influenced the history of world art—from the Sistine Chapel to Michelangelo's masterpieces. Walking through the streets of Savona's historic center today, in front of the Palazzo della Rovere, means traversing the same urban space that witnessed the growth of two of the most influential popes of the Renaissance.
