The enigmatic 'Roma' of Urban V (1362-1370) in Avignon

Although the name Roma to designate the new wing of the Papal Palace, Avignon, constructed and decorated by Urban V in 1364–66 is well established in scholarship, the origins of the term have never been determined and its interpretation as evidence of the pope’s longing for a return to Rome is open to question. For the first time this study examines the documentary sources concerning the construction of the new wing and the works undertaken in the surrounding gardens, integrating the archival evidence with archaeological findings and Early Modern drawings to provide a clearer reconstruction of its original appearance. Hitherto overlooked sources further demonstrate that the name Roma was associated with the building already before its completion, though not within the construction site itself, thereby shedding new light on the possible reasons for its use.