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Custóias, Leça do Balio e Guifões United Commune (Portugal)

Last modified: 2016-09-10 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: custoias(matosinhos) | leca do balio | guifoes | cross(maltese) | bridge | base(wavy) | wall(embattled) | scallop | hammer | corn(cob) |
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União das Freguesias de Custóias, Leça do Balio e Guifões, Concelho de Matosinhos, Distrito do Porto

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Former Custóias commune (until 2013)

[Custóias (Matosinhos) commune (until 2013)] 2:3 image by Sérgio Horta, 31 Aug 2016

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a field quartered of white and green.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 31 Aug 2016

Coat of arms

Shield Vert, issuant from a bar wavy Azure fimbriated Argent a throughout bridge Argent masoned Sable, having one arch; in chief a Maltese cross Argent, flanked by two scallops Or. Mural crown Argent with four visible towers (town rank) and white scroll with inscription in black capitals "CUSTÓIAS - MATOSINHOS".
Meaning:
The scallops are attributes of St. James the Elder, the local patron saint.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 31 Aug 2016

Old symbols of former Custóias commune (1997 - 2003)

[Custóias commune (1997 - 2003)] 2:3 image by Sérgio Horta, 31 Aug 2016

It was a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain white field. The coat of crms was the same as current one but with mural crown having just three visible towers (village rank).
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 31 Aug 2016

Published in Diário da República: III Série on 27 December 2003, the old symbols in Diário da República: III Série on 19 February 1997
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 31 Aug 2016

Presentation of Custóias

Custóias Commune was one of the pre-2013 communes of Matosinhos Municipality; it had 18 650 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 5.8 km². It became seat of a commune and gained the rank of a town on 26 August 2003.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 31 Aug 2016

Former Leça do Balio Commune (until 2013)


[Leça do Balio commune (until 2013)] 2:3 image by Sérgio Horta, 4 Aug 2010

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain white field.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 4 Aug 2010

Coat of arms

[Leça do Balio commune CoA (until 2013)] image by Sérgio Horta, 4 Aug 2010

Shield Gules a castle and embattled wall Argent, masoned and slit Sable issuant from base wavy of Azure and Argent, in chief a Maltese cross Argent. Mural crown Argent with four visible towers (town rank) and white scroll reading "LEÇA DO BALIO" in black upper case letters.
Meaning:
River Leça flows through the commune, thus the blue waves are canting; "balio" means "bailiff" and indeed this commune was part of the Leça Bailiwick, ruled by the Malta Order from 1123 to 1835; thence the Maltese Cross, also a canting element.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 4 Aug 2010

Published in the official journal Diário da República: III Série on 8 August 1997. Arms and flag were created by heraldrist Luís Moreira, of GEPHA.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 4 Aug 2010

Presentation of Leça do Balio

Leça do Balio Commune was one of the pre-2013 communes of Matosinhos Municipality (q.v.); it had 17 571 inhabitants in 2001 and covered 8.9 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 31 Aug 2016

Former Guifões commune (until 2013)

[Guifões commune (until 2013)] 2:3 image by , 31 Aug 2016

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain white field.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 31 Aug 2016

Coat of arms

Shield Vert, a throughout bridge Argent masoned Sable, having one arch; in chief a hammer Argent, flanked by two corn cobs Or. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll with inscription in black capitals "FREGUESIA DE GUIFÕES.
Meaning:
The corn cobs are symbolizing agricultural riches and the local spirit of helpfulness. The hammer is symbolizing the importance of local stonecutters. The bridge is symbolizing Roman castle "Castrum Quiffiones". The green colour is symbolizing the floral environment and Leça River as origin of the floral riches.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 31 Aug 2016

Published in Diário da República: III Série on 14 June 1994
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 31 Aug 2016

Presentation of Guifões

Guifões Commune was one of the pre-2013 communes of Matosinhos Municipality; it had 9495 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 3.5 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 31 Aug 2016

back to Matosinhos Communes click here