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Val Mara commune (Ticino canton, Switzerland)

Val Mara
Maroggia
Melano
Rovio

See also:

Val Mara

image located by Martin Karner

On 10 April 2022 the commune of Val Mara was created through the merger of Maroggia, Melano and Rovio (see below).

The white background of the emblem stands for the unity of the new commune and the preciousness of its nature. The flower is a peony,
typical for the region and growing all over the communal territory (Peonia del Generoso). The blue wavy bar represents the local river
Mara and the Lake Lugano. The three stars symbolize the three founding communes.
Two things are quite special of this emblem: The peony as heraldic figure on a communal emblem is unique in Switzerland and – we claim it
until proven wrong – even in Europe. Also the green stars are unique in Switzerland. Points of criticism could be: the unnatural looking stem;
the disconnected leaves which contradict the idea of unity; the two shades of pink (the use of the non-heraldic colour pink can be excused here
because of the regional specialty of this kind of peony). (source > scroll down to page 27)

Maroggia (until 9 April 2022)

image by Pascal Gross

Azure a donkey argent passant over a bridge of the same massoned sable above three lines wavy also argent and in chief three mullets or one and two.
Željko Heimer, 9 July 2003

The animal on the flag of Maroggia is a donkey (in Italian asino). The transport of manufactured products with the help of donkeys on the bridge over the torrent Mara left to the population the nickname Asan.
Pascal Gross, 8 July 2003

Melano (until 9 April 2022)

image by Pascal Gross

Gules a hazel dormouse or the chief embatteled argent and in base also argent three bendlets wavy azure.
Željko Heimer, 9 July 2003

The animal on the flag of Melano is a hazel dormouse (muscardinus avellanarius, in Italian nocciolino or in French muscardin) after the nickname given to the inhabitants.
Pascal Gross, 8 July 2003

The emblem is reminiscent of the Comaschi fortress, built around 1000, which reached as far as the lake. The hazel dormouse was extremely common in the village, which led to the residents' nickname Nisciölin.

Rovio (until 9 April 2022)

image by Pascal Gross

Or a cat rampant guardant sable langued gules.
Željko Heimer, 16 July 2003

The cat (in Italian gatto) on the flag of Rovio alludes to the nickname given to the inhabitants of this commune. [nickname: Gatt]
Pascal Gross, 15 July 2003

It is not known to us that the inhabitants of Rovio and Melano don't like each other.