Last modified: 2015-12-19 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: avintes | base(wavy) | watermill(wheel) | bezant | corn(cob) | stone of audience | siamese twins |
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![[Avintes commune]](../images/p/pt-vngav.gif)
2:3 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Dec 2015
It is an untypical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a field gyronny of 8 of red and yellow with centred arms.
Source: here
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Dec 2015
Shield Azure with base wavy of Argent and Azure, a watermill's wheel Gules fixed by six bezants and at the top superimposed by a corn cob Or leaved of the same, in dexter chief a group consisting of a table and three benches, all Argent and made of stone, in sinister chief the heads of Siamese twins Proper, having a common eye, one face mourning and the other one smiling. Mural crown Argent with four visible towers (town rank) and white scroll with inscription in black initials "VILA DE AVINTES".
Meaning:
The bezants had been the most important part of the arms of Dom Lope de Almeída, the 1st count of Avintes. Already at the end of the 17th century Avintes supplied the nearby city of Porto with flour made of corn, which was guaranteed by the local agricultural and the numerous watermills alongside the local Febros River, an affluent of the Douro. The group at dexter chief is representing the "stone of audience", a national monument, it is furthermore referring to justice and independence, important values for the people of the town. The Siamese twins, a variant of the masks of comedy and tragedy, are representing culture and arts, especially the local theatres.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Dec 2015
Flag and arms published in the official journal Diário da República: III Série on 25 January 1990. A gyronny flag with eight gyrons is usually reserved for cities, but due to mural crown with four visible towers and the scroll expressis verbis saying "VILA", we have a town. Astonishingly this pattern has passed the CHAAP's examinations.
Sources: here and here
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Dec 2015
Avintes Commune is one of the 15 communes of the Vila Nova de Gaia municipality (q.v.); it had 11 497 inhabitants in 2011 and covers 1.8 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Dec 2015
back to Vila Nova de Gaia Communes click here