La Vuelta a España 2016
Posted: 21 Aug 2016, 16:00
This year's Vuelta (Tour of Spain) started yesterday without my noticing (too much Olympics!).
The first day's time trial and second day's departure point was Ourense in Galicia. Those of you who followed my heraldic wanderings through Spain last year may remember that many Spanish cities and towns feature castles in their arms. Ourense is no exception, though the castle is on a bridge:
The "Ponte Vella" bridge depicted in the arms was built by the Romans and (thanks to many rebuilds) survived Suebi, Moors, Norsemen, Moors again and the reconquista. It once carried the road to Santiago de Compostela, but is now restricted to foot traffic.
The arms of the province of the same name are the same but with different tinctures:
The arms of Galicia, like so amny other areas and municipalities bears witness to the Christian faith of Spain:
The first day's time trial and second day's departure point was Ourense in Galicia. Those of you who followed my heraldic wanderings through Spain last year may remember that many Spanish cities and towns feature castles in their arms. Ourense is no exception, though the castle is on a bridge:
The "Ponte Vella" bridge depicted in the arms was built by the Romans and (thanks to many rebuilds) survived Suebi, Moors, Norsemen, Moors again and the reconquista. It once carried the road to Santiago de Compostela, but is now restricted to foot traffic.
The arms of the province of the same name are the same but with different tinctures:
Blazon of the arms of Ourense province: En campo de plata, puente peraltado de cinco arcos en su color natural, sumado de un castillo del mismo, con puerta y ventanas aclaradas de gules, a diestra; a siniestra un león rampante de gules empuñando, con la diestra, una espada de lo mismo; en jefe una corona real cerrada; en punta tres ondas de azur y plata; al timbre corona real cerrada, forrada de gules.
The arms of Galicia, like so amny other areas and municipalities bears witness to the Christian faith of Spain:
Blazon of the arms of Galicia: En campo de azur, un cáliz de oro sumado de una hostia de plata, y acompañado de siete cruces recortadas del mismo metal, tres a cada lado y una en el centro del jefe. El timbre, corona real, forrada de gules, o rojo, cerrada.