Last modified: 2015-04-18 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: castro marim | castle(red) | keys(crossed) | cross(templar;rounded) | cross(christ knights) | head(moor) | head(king) |
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It is a fairly typical Portuguese municipal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a red and black quarterly field(town rank).
António Martins-Tuválkin, 7 May 2007
The arms are Or a castle Gules masoned Sable with port and windows Or upon a fess Vert and flanked at dexter by a rounded cross patty Gules and at sinister by a cross patty Gules voided Argent, all beneath a pair of keys Sable crossed per saltire pointing upwards, flanked at dexter by a Christian king’s head and at sinister by a Moorish king’s head (see about it), base Argent charged with two fesses wavy Azure. Mural crown Argent with four visible towers (town rank) and white scroll reading in black upper case letters ""VILA DE CASTRO MARIM".
Meaning:
The wavy fesses stand surely for river Guadiana, which makes the eastern border of this municipality, facing Spain. The two heads are a regional symbol, shared by most Algarve subnational coats of arms. The crosses, Templar cross andChrist Knights’ Order cross, stand for the local importance of both orders. The castle stands for the actual castle of Castro Marim (which is not red), and may also be a canting element along with the waves, for "castro marim" means in Portuguese (though using two archaic words) "marsh castle". No idea about the keys, though.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 8 May 2007
Flag and arms adopted and published in the official journal Diário do Governo : I Série in 1937.09.21.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 7 May 2007
Castro Marim municipality had 6593 inhabitants in 2001 and consists of 4 communes covering 299,83 km². It is part of Faro District, traditional province, 1999 ref. adm. region, current C.C.R. / NUTS II, and NUTS III Algarve.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 7 May 2007
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