In the St Peter's Basilica of Rome we find, among the many beauties, also the funeral monument dedicated to Innocent VIII, pope of the late fifteenth century who was a victim of events and politics, but who in some way was made immortal by this extraordinary funeral monument. First of all imagine how it is the only one which belongs to the old St Peter's Basilica that  is still preserved today. We are along the left aisle, and it is easy to be struck by the particular funeral monument dedicated to this pontiff, also because it is very different from the others.

First of all let me tell you that the first stone of the new basilica was laid in 1506, while pope Innocent VIII Cybo died in 1492, on July 25. Curious how the epitaph, carved years later, on the third line says  “Novi orbis his aevo invents gloria”, which means "During his reign the discovery of a New World", although the pontiff died a few days before the departure of Columbus. Perhaps, it is hypothesized, he was its direct protector, or perhaps he was one of the main proponent and inspirer of the enterprise that guided Columbus towards the unexpected discovery of America. For this reason the figure of the pope and the relative funeral monument deserve great attention. However Innocent VIII distinguished himself for his social and festive evenings and for being the first pope to be elected and announced with the famous words Habemus Papam, which still today are celebrated a few moments before the first appearance of the new pontiff. Moreover he went down in history as an advocate of the crusades against the Waldensians and for being a malleable, manipulable man, stingy in politics and in poor health. It was not a coincidence that he was elected just to be directly controlled and managed by the powerful Della Rovere family (after all he was the successor of Sixtus IV, whose pontificate indelibly marked the papal court as well as the architectural and urbanistic aspect of Rome). Innocent VIII was also one of the popes who, more than others, used his important social and political role, as well as his power, to favor relatives and friends. His pontificate was marked by an important work of nepotism.

But it's time to come back to the funeral monument, which survived the total reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica that I already mentioned. An exceptional work of art that deserves a lot of attention... But this tomb, designed by Pollaiolo, has another special characteristic! First of all it represents an artistic novelty: both figures, both the reclining one and seated on the throne, represent the dead man, and it is the first time that both choices are used simultaneously. Moreover, and this is really curious, to say how today the funeral monument and the two bronze figures look... upside down! Yep, since originally the reclining figure was supposed to be above the seated one, not the other way around. But imagine the chaos during the construction of the new St. Peter's Basilica: thousands of workers at work, all together, a construction site that had been going on for years, problems of various kinds. When the tomb was moved to build the new pillar, evidently someone did not make a good note of the original position. And in fixing the tomb again, according to tradition, the exchange took place. Finally, a last curiosity about the historical figure of Innocent VIII, the pope to whom we owe the return to Rome of a very important relic, the tip of the spear of San Longino, which today is preserved in the pillar dedicated to the saint that is located around to the famous Canopy by Bernini and Borromini, in the center of St. Peter's Basilica of Rome. That is why, in this funeral monument, the pontiff is depicted with the tip of a spear held in his hand. A reminder of one of the moments that made the historical figure of Innocent VIII immortal in every sense.