Description of the attraction
The mint is located in Avignon opposite the papal palace and contrasts with it with its baroque decoration. A large inscription carved into the facade of the building says that it was built in 1619 by the vice-legate Jean-François de Bani (1614-1621) in honor of the then reigning Pope Paul V.
The first floor of the building, made of stone, is illuminated by four windows and a doorway, while the rest of the facade without a single window is decorated with huge sculptures. Above the inscription, which seems to be carried by angels, is the coat of arms of Pope Paul V (in the world of Camillo Borghese) and the papal tiara. And below, on either side of the memorial inscription, we see the coat of arms of the Borghese dynasty, which depicts an eagle and a dragon, emphasized by lush garlands of fruit, which is a classic attribute of the Baroque style.
Probably the vice-legate Jean-François de Bani also wanted to praise the legate of Avignon Scipio Caffarelli (1607-1621), the nephew of the Pope, who later became Cardinal Scipione Borghese. He also became famous as a philanthropist and tireless art collector. Unfortunately, the archives were looted and lost. And nothing else is known about "the author of the Italian facade of Avignon, who transferred Rome to the banks of the Rhone" (J. Girard).
Since 1860, it has housed the Music Conservatory named after the composer Olivier Messiens (1908-1992), one of the most famous residents of Avignon of the 20th century. However, in 2007 the conservatory was moved to another building.
