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Penha de França Commune (Portugal)

Freguesia de Penha de França, Concelho de Lisboa, Distrito de Lisboa

Last modified: 2016-08-27 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: penha de franca | sao joao(lisboa) | water tower | wheat(ear) | grape | fortress | eagle(nimbed) |
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[Penha de França commune (Lisboa)] 2:3 image by Sérgio Horta, 2 Dec 2014
See also:

Introduction of Penha de França

In 2012 Penha de França merged with the slightly bigger commune of São João, but the new commune kept the name of the smaller entity.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2014

Former Penha de França Commune

Penha de França Flag (until 2012)

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a field quartered of white and blue.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2014

Coat of arms

[Penha de França commune (Lisboa) CoA] image by Sérgio Horta and Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2014

Shield Azure, a water tower Argent, accompanied by four wheat ears Or, two on either side and in base by a grape Purpure leaved Or. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll reading "PENHA DE FRANÇA - LISBOA" in black upper case letters.
Meaning:
The water tower is the so called "Fogareiro" (literally "boiler"), constructed in 1929. The other charges are symbolizing the riches of cereals and wine. The blue colour refers to a miraculuous image of the patron saint, Our Lady of Penha de França.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2014

Flag and arms adopted and published in Diário da República: III Série on 12 November 1993
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2014

Presentation of Penha de França

Penha de França was one of the 53 pre-2012 communes of Lisboa Municipality. It had inhabitants in 2011 and covered  km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2014

Former São João Commune

Flag (until 2012)

[São João commune (Lisboa) (until 2012)] 2:3 image by Sérgio Horta, 2 Dec 2014

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain white field.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2014

Coat of arms

[São João commune (Lisboa) CoA (until 2012)] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2014

Shield Gules, over a piece of a city wall Or, masoned Sable with two Spanish turrets (at least we call it in Germany) is an eagle Argent eyed red and nimbed Or. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll reading in black upper case letters "S. JOÃÃO - LISBOA".
Meaning:
The nimbed eagle - e.g. also to be seen in the Spanish national flag - is the attribute of St. John the Evangelist, the local patron saint. The wall is representing rests of Santa Apolónia Fort, a pentagonal defensive fortification, constructed by Vauban and built between 1652 and 1668. Later on, the precise date is unknown, it lost its function and was incorporated into the complex of Quinta do Manique, the estate of the Viscount of Manique and later on of the Count of São Vicente. In 1945 the rests of the fort became a property of George & H. Hall, Lda.
Flag and arms were designed by Eduardo Lourenço Brito .
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2014

Flag and arms adopted and published in Diário da República: III Série on 28 January 2003
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2014

Presentation of São João

São João was one of the 53 pre-2012 communes of Lisboa Municipality. It had 15 187 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 1,51 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 2 Dec 2014

back to Lisboa Communes click here