Last modified: 2005-04-29 by
Keywords: nisa | coat of arms | castle (yellow) | cross: são bento | crescent: points to hoist | quinas | star: 6 points (white) |
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![[Nisa municipality]](../images/p/pt-nis.gif)
It is a quite typical portuguese municipal flag, with the coat of arms centered on a plain yellow background. The coat of arms is gules, a castle or masoned sable, door and windows void, under a roman cross patte argent voided gules, this flanqued by two six pointed stars under which, sinister, an eschuteon charged with Portugal ancien, and, dexter, a crescent argent. Mural crown argent with four visible towers (town rank) and white scroll reading in black upper case letters "NOTÁVEL VILA DE NISA". The unusual epithet "notável" ("noteworthy") was attributed for successful borderline defense, if I recall correctly.
António Martins, 31 Jul 1999
The cross is that of the Knights of São Bento, the oldest military order, created in the beginning of the 13th century by Afonso II. (From: Les Guides Bleus — Portugal, Madàre, Açores, 1978)
Jarig Bakker, 01 Aug 1999
Plain (monocolored) portuguese subnational flags are not allowed to have armless variations: plain flags always carry the coat of arms.
Jorge Candeias, 18 Jul 1999
Nisa municipality had 9460 inhabitants in 1990, and it is divided in 10 communes, covering 574 km2. It belongs to the Portalegre District and to the old province of Alto Alentejo.
António Martins, 31 Jul 1999