Last modified: 2006-02-05 by antonio martins
Keywords: alter do chão | coat of arms: per fess | fleurs-de-lis: 2 | fleur-de-lis (golden) | fountain | castle (red) | quinas: 2 |
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The flag is quarterly yellow over red with the coat of arms in the centre. The
coat of arms has a 4-towered mural crown, a typical
scroll that reads "VILA DE ALTER DO CHÃO" and the shield
is horizontally divided silver over black. The silver filed is charged with a red
castle with three towers and black door and windows, sided by two
“quinas”.
The black field is charged by a golden fountain (with blue flowing water), sided
by two golden fleurs-de-lis. Quite a nice coat of arms, in my humble opinion.
Jorge Candeias, 20 Jun 1998
Trying to guess the meaning of the coat of arms, I’d make the educated guess
that there are or where somewhere in the municipality some thermal facilities
(the fountain seems to reflect that), the castle, as usual, symbolizes some sort
of fortifications (I seem to recall that there is even today a castle there), and
the fleur-de-lis may have something to do with the french invasions. If somebody
has more info, please come forward.
Jorge Candeias, 20 Jun 1998
Alter do Chão belongs to the district of Portalegre,
old province of Alto Alentejo, future region of
Alentejo. The municipality has an area of 361,6 km2
and only about 4200 inhabitants in 4 communes. I don’t know much on it’s economy,
but I suppose it’s rural, as usual in this part of the country.
Jorge Candeias, 20 Jun 1998
