The Lions and the Pears of Pope Sixtus V

  of Pope Sixtus V
  (a detail of Cappella Sistina in S. Maria Maggiore)

The Iron Pope

Pope Sixtus V (Felice Peretti) was 64 when he became Pope in 1585. Because of his age (and perhaps as a legend says because of his apparent poor health) he was expected to have little impact on the government of Rome. On the contrary, Sixtus V in five years left a great mark of his strong will and of his self-esteem.
Born into a poor family in the little village of Montalto (he will be also known as Cardinal Montalto) in the remote Marca d'Ascoli he adopted a complex coat of arms with four symbols: a rampant lion holding pears (as a reminder of his family name Peretti) and three mountains topped by a star. These symbols not only appear in his formal coat of arms, but are used as a decoration of buildings and churches.

Palazzo del Laterano: (left) detail of the cornice; (right) coat of arms of Pope Sixtus V above the entrance

Palazzo del Laterano was rebuilt by Sixtus V, who left his mark also on the exterior of the palace, not only in the formal coat of arms above the entrance, but also in the decoration with this fascinating and somewhat incredible lion with branches of pears in his mouth. One of the reasons for this somewhat hidden reminder of himself can be traced to his mistrust of mankind including the popes who will follow.

Palazzo del Laterano - ceilings of: (left) Sala di Samuele; (right) Sala dei Pontefici

In fact sometimes a pope would replace a coat of arms of a predecessor with his own, just for some minor works or repairs: so the heraldic symbols used as decorative motifs had a better chance of survival.

SS. Trinit� dei Monti

Coat of arms and heraldic symbols at SS. Trinit� dei Monti

SS. Trinit� dei Monti is at the end of a street which links it with the rear side of Santa Maria Maggiore. This road was called Strada Felice after the Pope's first name, today the section from Trinit� dei Monti to Piazza Barberini is called Via Sistina after his name as a Pope. It is one of six rettifili (straight streets) by which the Pope designed the future expansion of Rome. Only the pillar of the steps leading to the church reminds us of the Pope. The lion and the pears are barely recognizable in the formal coat of arms, but the three mountains are clearly visible.

Obelisks

Heraldic symbols on obelisks: (left) in Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano; (centre/right) in Piazza S. Pietro

There are more obelisks in Rome than anywhere else. Brought to Rome by the Emperors and put in the circuses and the stadiums, they had almost all fallen when Sixtus V became a pope. He and his architect Domenico Fontana restored them and used them as the focal point for the rettifili. The obelisk in Piazza S. Pietro was the first to be erected. It stands upon four heraldic lions of Sixtus V. On their heads a star, another symbol of the Pope. Later on Pope Innocent XIII added his chequered eagle. All the tips of the four obelisks Sixtus V erected were decorated with his heraldic symbols (see also those in Piazza del Popolo and near S. Maria Maggiore). You may wish to see a page showing all the obelisks of Rome.

Ponte Felice

(above) New Ponte Felice; (below) coats of arms of the Pope on the old bridge

Ponte Sisto was built by Pope Sixtus IV, but also Sixtus V wanted to associate his name to a new bridge on the Tiber. He did so near Magliano Sabina on the Via Flaminia and he named it after himself (Felice). Ponte Felice was built on dry ground and then the river-bed was modified. The bridge was very much damaged during World War II and it was then rebuilt and enlarged making use of the original foundations. Some of the coats of arms were recovered and are now shown on a wall at the beginning of the bridge.

A Little Fountain in Bagnaia

Fountain in the main square town of old Bagnaia

Bagnaia, a few miles from Viterbo is a small town, with a Villa (Villa Lante) which has an impressive Italian garden. In the main square this little fountain bears the signs of the Pope (it was built by his nephew Cardinal Montalto, governor of Viterbo). The three mountains are also noticeable around the base of the fountain. A similar fountain can be seen in Piazza d'Aracoeli in Rome.

In his Homeland

Statue in Camerino

In the Marche, especially in the southern part, Sixtus V is still regarded as a national hero. Towns and villages are proud of being the birthplace of the Pope, or of his parents and other relatives and there are several references to him. Camerino, Fermo and Loreto erected in his honour bronze statues showing him sitting on the papal throne with lions coming out of his robe (similar to the dragon which can be seen in a statue of Pope Gregory XIII).

Note: the background image for this page shows the heraldi symbols of the Pope in the main portal of Palazzo della Cancelleria.