Its ruins have long been known as the Ponte Rotto.
On the death of Julius III.

in 1555, Cardinal Cervini was made Pope, with the title of Marcellus II.

This event revived the hopes of the sect, who once more began to machinate against Michelangelo.

The Duke of Tuscany at this time was exceedingly anxious that he should take up his final abode at Florence; and Buonarroti, feeling he had now no strong support in Rome, seems to have entertained these proposals with alacrity.

The death of Marcellus after a few weeks, and the election of Paul IV., who besought the great architect not to desert S.
Peter's, made him change his mind.