
Last modified: 2014-08-23 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: guimaraes | saint mary | jesus | wreath: olive | quinas: 2 (11 plates) | quina: 11 plates |
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It is a quite typical portuguese municipal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a background gyronny (meaning city rank) of white and green.
António Martins, 31 July 1999
image by Sérgio Horta, 31 July 1999
The arms are or, the Virgin Mary holding Jesus proper, both crowned or (no nimbus), above a wreath of olive bounded argent, and between two inescutcheons in chief, azure, eleven bezants argent placed 3+2+3+2+1 (“quina” — the ineschutcheons are like those found on the Portuguese royal arms of 1185-1211, a period during which, Guimarães Castle was the usual residence of the Kings of Portugal). Mural crown argent with five visible towers (city rank) and white scroll reading in black upper case letters "CIDADE DE GUIMARÃES".
2:3 image by António Martins-Tuválkin, Apr 2010
Guimarães municipality had 160 710 inhabitants in 1990, and it is divided in 48 communes, covering 258 km2. It belongs to the District of Braga and to the old province of Minho.
António Martins, 31 July 1999
Guimarães was our first capital city back in the 12th century, when Lisbon was still under arab rule. I think its down town is protected by the UNESCO. The football team has seen better days, though. Jorge Candeias, 18 Jan 1999
back to Guimarães Municipality click here.