Born in Savona, he was the son of Paolo Riario and Pope Sixtus IVs' sister, Bianca Della Rovere.

He was a humanist known for his patronage of literature and the arts, his huge feasts, luxurious behaviour and irreligious conduct.

[1] He had a large palace begun in Rome, near the church of Santi Apostoli (it was completed by his cousin Giuliano della Rovere, pope as Julius II).

In 1473 he had the square before his palazzo transformed with painted canvas and wooden construction into temporary but luxurious lodging for Eleanor of Naples the daughter of King Ferrante of Naples, who was entertained in June, as she traveled through Rome on her way to marry Duke Ercole I d'Este of Ferrara, with a Roman reception including an extravagant banquet with forty piatti that included roast stags, herons, the requisite roast peacock, even a roast bear.

He was buried in Santi Apostoli in a magnificent Renaissance tomb sculpted by Mino da Fiesole and Andrea Bregno.