Della Torre was born in the territory of Modena,[5] and held a degree in the Arts, and was a Doctor of Medicine.[6] Because of his intellectual gifts he was a favorite of Pope Eugene IV.[7]
On 24 September 1463, he was transferred to the diocese of Parma by Pope Pius II, at the same time as the Bishop of Parma, Delfino della Pergola, was transferred to Modena.[12]
^According to Ughelli, p. 131: in Mutinensibus alpibus. According to Gasparo Sillingardi (1606). Catalogus omnium episcoporum Mutinensium (in Latin). Modena: Joannes Maria de Verdis. p. 121., Scipioni successit Jacobus Antonius a Turre, loco ignobili in montibus Mutinensibus oriundus, qui licet obscuros habuerit natales.... Di Zio, "DELLA TORRE, Giacomo Antonio", draws attention to efforts to connect Della Torre's ancestry with more prestigious families, such as the Torriani of Valsassina:
"Tale opinione non è condivisa dall'Ughelli e dal Tiraboschi, che gli attribuiscono bassi natali".