Last modified: 2014-10-25 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: borba | castle(red) | crescents(2) | cork oaks(2) | fess(wavy) | fish(2) | cross(avis) |
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![[Borba municipality]](../images/p/pt-brb.gif)
2:3 image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 12 Oct 2014
It is a fairly typical Portuguese municipal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a field gyronny of eight (city rank) of white and red.
Source: I spotted this flag on 2 October 2013 in the commune's building of São Bartolomeu.
,
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 12 Oct 2014
![[Borba municipality CoA]](../images/p/pt-brb).gif)
image by Sérgio Horta, 18 July 1999
A silver shield with sable base. It is charged in chief by a green cross of Avis sided by two red crescents pointing upwards, in the middle by a red castle with white door and windows flanked by two cork oaks proper, and in base by a white-blue-white wavy bar with two silver fish facing the center. Heavy, but relatively nice. Mural crown with five visible towers (city rank), white scroll, reading in black upper case letters "MUNICÍPIO DE BORBA".
The former arms had been slightly different: a mural crown with four visible towers (town rank) and the inscription "VILA DE BORBA".
Meaning:
The fish are of the species common barbel (Portuguese: barbo; Latin: Barbus barbus). According to Sérgio Horta there is a legend that the name of the city is derived from "barbo" and was changed twice later on to "Borba". The castle is a representation of Borba castle, the red colour is symbolizing wars and victories. The Avis Cross is alluding to the order's presence in the city in the past (the town of Avis is not that far away, and it’s likely that the territory of Borba was part of the Order’s dominions), the crescents are alluding to the Moorish heritage before the Portuguese reconquest. The cork oaks are typical, regional trees. The wavy bar may stand for one (or both) the creeks that spring near the town and cross the municipality: Ana Loura and Lucefece.
Jorge Candeias, 18 Nov 1998 and Klaus-Michael Schneider, 12 Oct 2014
![[Borba municipality 1999]](../images/p/pt-brb4.gif)
2:3 image by Jorge Candeias,24 July 1999
The flag is a plain red flag with the arms in the centre. The old flag of Borba was in use at least until 2009, probably longer.
According to Sérgio Horta the old flag and arms were adopted and published in Diário do Governo : I Série on 22 Aug 1939.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 12 Oct 2014
![[Borba municipality plain]](../images/p/pt-brb0.gif)
2:3 image by António Martins-Tuválkin, Apr 2010
Borba is a city in Alentejo (Alto Alentejo traditional province), Évora district. The municipality is one of the smallest municipalities in Alentejo, be it in area (145,19 km²), in number of inhabitants (slightly over 8000 / 7333 inhabitants in 2011) or in number of communes (4). The municipality is rural, mainly known for its wine and the cutback of marble. The city of Borba is remarkable insofar, as all the pavements are made of white marble, because numerous quarries of marble are located around the city.
Jorge Candeias, 18 Jul 1999 and Klaus-Michael Schneider, 12 Oct 2014
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