Sfondrati studied
Ancient Greek and
Latin as a young man and then received a
doctorate of
law from the
University of Pavia, where he studied civil law under
Giasone del Maino and canon law under
Filippo Decio. In 1518, he became a professor of public law at the
University of Padua. He would later work as a professor at the University of Pavia, the
University of Bologna, the
Sapienza University of Rome, and the
University of Turin. He was a counselor of
Charles III, Duke of Savoy and a member of the
senate of
Turin. In 1527 and 1528, he was
Podestà of
Pavia. He was later a counselor of
Francesco II Sforza, joining the
Senate of
Milan in 1530. Sfondrati became a patron of
Gerolamo Cardano after the physician cured one of his sons. In 1533, Sfondrati acquired the fiefdom of
Bellagio, formerly belonging to the Marquis of Stanga. The ruins of the sumptuous Stanga building were rebuilt by Francesco. For more than 200 years the Sfondrati family ruled Bellagio.
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor then named Sfondrati to the
Aulic Council. He was also Charles V's
ambassador to the Duke of Savoy. On 23 October 1537 the emperor made him
Graf of
Riviera di Lecco and
Freiherr of
Valsassina. He also served as
Governor of
Siena. He was succeeded in his titles by his son Paolo Sfondrati (? -
Turin, 23 April 1587), 2nd Count of Rivera di Lecco and 2nd Baron of Valassina, married to his twice cousin Sigismonda d'Este of the Lords of San Martino, by whom he had issue. ==Clerical career==