São Bartolomeu de Messines

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Portugal - Brasões dos municípios portugueses

SÃO BARTOLOMEU de MESSINES

Municipality : Silves
District : Faro

Official blazon:
Escudo de prata, torre sineira do mesmo, realçada de vermelho, acompanhada em chefe de dois crescentes de vermelho e em ponta de dois cavalos baios, em corrida, o da dextra voltado, com os cavaleiros vestidos de vermelho; bordadura azul, carregada de sete folhas de figueira de ouro. Coroa mural e quatro torres de prata. Listel branco, com a legenda de negro : " VILA DE S. BARTOLOMEU DE MESSINES ".

Origin/meaning :
The arms were officially granted on October 21, 1992.

The arms are based on the following legend : Some centuries ago two small villages near the actual Messines had some competition because the image of the St Bartholomew. They decided to send two knights and build a church in the place where they would meet. Around this church S. Bartolomeu de Messines developed. So the village arms show the knights, the church tower and the moon because the meeting happened at night.

Literature : image send by Sergio Horta, background by Luis Estevens