Last modified: 2022-10-14 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: agualva | mira sintra | crown(marian) | bridge | cogwheel | dolmen | mountain | knot(franciscan) | windmill(wheel) |
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Agualva and Mira Sintra became independent communes, when the city of Agualva Cacém was divided into four independent communes in 2001. On 29 September 2013 the communes of Agualva and Mira Sintra merged.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 June 2015
![[Agualva commune (2001-2013)]](../images/p/pt-sntas-ag.gif)
2:3 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 June 2015
It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain blue field.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 June 2015
Shield Or with base wavy of Azure and Argent crowned by an old bridge Sable masoned Argent, in chief a Marian crown Azure gemmed Argent, beneath the crown a cogwheel at dexter and a dolmen at sinister, both Sable. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll with inscription in black initials: "AGUALVA - SINTRA".
Meaning:
The crown is an attribute of Our Lady of Comfort, the local patron saint. The base wavy is representing the banks of Jardas, aka Įgua Alva. The bridge is an archaeological heritage of the commune. It's the same with the dolmen, representing the "Anta de Agualva". The cogwheel is representing the local industries.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 June 2015
Published in Diário da República: III Série on 24 October 2003
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 June 2015
Agualva Commune was one of the pre-2013 communes of Sintra Municipality (q.v.); it had 35 619 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 10.5 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 June 2015
![[Mira-Sintra commune (2001-2013)]](../images/p/pt-sntas-mr.gif)
2:3 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 June 2015
It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plainblue field.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 June 2015
Shield Argent, a knot Gules between a windmill's wheel roped Sable and rigged Azure in chief and a mountain Vert issuant from a base wavy of Argent and Azure. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll with inscription in black initials: "MIRA SINTRA".
Meaning:
The silver (= white) colour of the shield is symbolizing the predominant colour of the houses of the original settlement of Mira Sintra. The knot is the belt of the Franciscan habit (turned from white to red not only due to heraldic rules) and thus alluding to St. Francis of Assisi, the local patron saint, who had been stigmatised in 1224 on Mt. Verna like Jesus Christ. This is the other reason of the knot's red colour. The millwheel is representing the Moinho da Pedra (=stone mill), a local historical heritage. The blue colour of the sails is symbolizing the blue sky. The base wavy has three allusions: 1) the banks of Jardas, forming the border to Rio de Mouro; 2) the aqueduct of Águas Livres passing the commune and 3) the riches of water, which gave the of the former city of Agualva Cacém. Finally the mountain is representing the view from the Sintra Ridge (Serra de Sintra) and is the origin of the commune's name, meaning: "Look at Sintra". The green colour is symbolizing floral riches.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 June 2015
Draft of flag and arms made by José Bènard Guedes, published in Diário da República: III Série on 21 May 2004
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 June 2015
Mira-Sintra Commune was one of the pre-2013 communes of Sintra Municipality (q.v.); it had 5052 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 1.2 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 June 2015
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