![[Praia da Vitória municipality]](../images/p/pt-pvt.gif)
Last modified: 2015-09-05 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: praia da vitoria | lion(red) | palm frond | goshawk (brown) | quina |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
2:3 image by Sérgio Horta, 24 Sep 2007
It is a slightly atypical
Portuguese municipal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain red background. According to Sério Horta’s website, these flag and arms were not yet officially adopted, but are in use since 1981.06.20, when the municipality seat was upgraded to
city status
arms .
António Martins-Tuválkin, 22 Sep 2007
![[Praia da Vitória municipality CoA]](../images/p/pt-pvt).gif)
image by Sérgio Horta, 23 Sep 2007
The arms are Or a lion rampant between two palm fronds Vert and on the chief a goshawk Proper holding an inescutcheon Azure charged with five plates Argent set in saltire (a quina). Mural crown argent with five
visible towers (city rank) and white scroll reading in black upper case letters "NUI NOTÁVEL CIDADE DE PRAIA DA VITÓRIA".
António Martins-Tuválkin, 22 Sep 2007
Meaning:
The lion is a mythological symbol of strength and dedication. The unusual style in the scroll is an honourary addition given to the city after its role in the Portuguese Civil War in 1826; "praia da vitória" means "victory beach" for the same reason (previously the town was known simply as Praia); the palm fronds refer also to this episode.
Miguel de Faria e Castro, 6 Feb 2007 and António Martins-Tuválkin, 22 Sep 2007
Plain (monocoloured) Portuguese subnational flags are not allowed to have variations without arms: plain flags always carry the coat of arms.
Jorge Candeias, 18 July 1999
![[Praia da Vitória municipality (1939-1981)]](../images/p/pt-pvt1.gif)
2:3 image by Sérgio Horta, 22 Sep 2007
The previous flag and arms were adopted and published in the official journal Diário do Governo : I Série in 1939.08.11. It had four towers in the crown (town rank), and the scroll reading "NUI NOTÁVEL VILA DE PRAIA DA VITÓRIA". António Martins-Tuválkin, 22 Sep 2007
The current coat of arms bears little resemblance to the city’s historical coat of arms, granted by Queen Mary II in 1837, which displayed a tower and a black ship, both symbolising the large naval battle which took place at the city’s location during the 1580 crisis.
Miguel de Faria e Castro, 6 Feb 2007
Praia da Vitória municipality had 20 252 inhabitants in 2001 and consists of 11 communes covering 162,29 km², taking up the northeastern half of Terceira Island. It is part of Açores Region (also a NUTS II and traditional province), and of former Angra do Heroismo District.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 22 Sep 2007
Praia da Vitória is a small town in the island of Terceira which was elevated to city following a regional decree in 1981. It is perhaps better known for its proximity to the Lajes Air Base, extensively used by the USAF in the Second Gulf War.
Miguel de Faria e Castro, 06 Feb 2007
This municipality is home to Lajes Field, the Portuguese Air Base nº4 leased to the United States Air Force 65th Air Base Wing (and neither in Lajes do Pico nor Lajes das Flores municipalities).
António Martins-Tuválkin, 22 Sep 2007
back to Municipalities of Portugal click here
