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Flags of the World

Page created: 1st October 2000 Last updated: 21st November 2011
The FAME is a site devoted to the systematic and scientific study of flags and coats of arms. Such symbols often bear strong political and other messages. Inclusion of those symbols here does not mean that the author supports or approves of the ideas they may stand for.	This site is harvested for the NSK digital archives.

Map of the Istria County. Legend: Gr. = Gračišće, KL = Kaštelir - Labinci, SN = Sveta Nedelja, SP = Sveti Petar u Šumi, Sv. = Svetvinčenat, TV = Tar - Vabriga, Vi. = Vižinada

Istria County - Cities

Istarska županija - gradovi

1. Pazin
   • Pazin, 1974 – 1990
2. Buje – Buie
3. Buzet
4. Labin
   • Labin, 199x
5. Novigrad – Cittanova
   • Novigrad, ca. 198x
6. Poreč – Parenzo
   • Poreč – Parenzo, variant
7. Pula – Pola
   • Pula, 196x ? – 1990
8. Rovinj – Rovigno
   • Rovinj, ca. 1920
9. Umag – Umago
   • Umag, 1990's
10. Vodnjan – Dignano
    • Vodnjan – Dignano, ca. 1995 – 2003

The regulations on the local flags in Croatia require that a flag of a city or community be of a field of one colour with the coat of arms in the middle or offset towards hoist. Some exceptions from this rule are tolerated for the cities with traditional flag established before these rules were made, while some cities choose to ignore the regulations and use a flag of their liking. It may be that in time the latter exceptions would be replaced.
In 1997 the communities of Novigrad and Umag were given the status of a city, and in 2003 Vodnjan, too.

• Istria County
• Croatia - Counties
• Croatia

Pazin

1:2

The coat of arms of Pazin is argent bordered or a tower issuant azure is based on stone carvings preserved in the city assembly. The oldest coat of arms of Pazin is preserved in the parish curch of St. Nicolas in Pazin from 1441, being gules a bar argent and overall issunat from the base a tower with embatteled walls argent. The background of the shield reminded to the ownership of the Pazin County by the Austrian archdukes, while the tower is picturing the city and also reminds to the previous owners Von Thurn (della Torre). This was used since, preserved in notably ceremonial depiciton on a document from 1715. During the Napoleonic wars the red-white-red Austrian background was replaced with the blue background more pleasing to the Italian irridentists, to be used until the end of World War I. In 20th century the colours were reversed, and such coat of arms from 1930 is preserved in stone carving that has been model for all the coats of arms afterwards. In the 1940 in the chief of the coat of arms was set in red header the fasces and laurel branches. After the Wolrd War II the coat of arms was in disuse until it was formally adopted in 1974 with the adition of a red five-pointed star above the tower. The star was in practice removed in 1990, to be formally adopted in the current form in 1994 together with the newly established flag: vertical, blue with the coat of arms set in the top of its lower half. The ceremonial flag is of the same design made of richer materials, vertical banner with golden fringe on three edges. The Ministry has not yet issued the approval for the use of these symbols rejecting them for "heraldic irregularities, change of colours, introduction of new element - the border, irregular consturction of the shield, wrong stylization of the tower and unherladic use of colours argent and or". Inspite of that, the coat of arms and the flag are in use.

Pazin, 1974 – 1990

No flag.

The coat of arms used in the socialist period included the red five-pointed star above the tower. The flag was not reported.

Buje – Buie

1:2

The coat of arms is Argent a Cross Gules. Similar coat of arms is held by several other cities in the area, and probably originates from the crusade period. The flag uses unusual reddish-brown colour for the field colour with the coat of arms in the middle. The vertical flag includes the coat of arms off-set to top, has rectangular tails and is bordered with golden edges.

Buzet

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The emblem used as the coat of arms of Buzet pictures the city gates and a well within a cartouche including the oak and vine ornaments. The emblem is set in the canton of a diagonal bicolour white-red flag. The primary orientation is vertical, but hoirzontal hoisting is allowed. The ceremonial flag is of the same design with golden fringe.

The Italian name of Buzet - Pinguente is rarely used.

Labin

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The coat of arms of Labin is Argent a Cross Gules like that of several other Istrian cities. The representation within oval golden bordered shield and in silver cartouche makes it unique. The shield is flanked with three horizontal bars on both sides and there are green lily branches in lower part. The lower end of the cartouche is reminding on the cog wheel as Labin are is the most industrially developed part of Istria. The flag of Labin is red with the coat of arms in the middle.
The ceremonial flag is a red gonfalon ending triangularly and with three tails, edged yellow and with yellow fringe along the bottom. In the middle of it is the coat of arms in full colours and above it the name of the city.

Labin, 199x

(1) 1:2

(2) 1:2

In early 1990's Labin was using ornamental flags with outlined coat of arms in several colour combinations, e.g. white on red, black on yellow, blue on white and similar. In late 1990's the white flag with full-coloured coat of arms was also reported, but at least in 2001 statutes the red flag is determined.

Novigrad – Cittanova

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The coat of arms of Novigrad is argent a saltire gules. The stone carvings with coat of arms of Novigrad are preserved today from at least 14th century, and since at least early 17th century the cross is finally determined to be a red saltire (St. Andrew's cross) throughout. The flag is white with the coat of arms in the middle.

Until 1997 Novigrad had a community status.

Novigrad, ca. 198x

Flag unknown.

The coat of arms used in late 1980's was of a slightly different shape and with the light blue background.

Poreč – Parenzo

1:2 | 2:3~

The coat of arms of Poreč is Per pale Argent and Gules. The shield is surrounded by laurel and oak branches. This coat of arms is used in Poreč since the Middle Ages. The flag is vertically hoisted red and white with the coat of arms set centered in the top half of the flag. The ceremonial flag is of the same design, but edged with golden string and with golden fring along the bottom edge. The three-tailed flag is reported in use only as table flag.

Poreč – Parenzo, variant

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A variant graphical representation of the same coat of arms is also used - in the headers of the official gazette and the city magazine at least, even though the above design is apparently preferably used in other official occasions.

Pula – Pola

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The coat of arms of Pula is similar to other simple arms with cross so often in Istria, testifying their ancienity, but the colour combination used in Pula are rather unique Vert a cross Or. A ceremonial form of the coat of arms is also prescribed, adding ornamental renaissance border to the shield, with curls at the upper corners and a stylized fleur de lis and a white ribbon at the top. The flag of Pula is also atypical diverting from the rule requiring the Croatian civic flags to be monocoloured flags with coat of arms. The flag of Pula is banner of arms, a flag in so called Scandinavian cross pattern, green with yellow cross.

Pula, 196x ? – 1990

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After World War II the coat of arms of Pula with the cross was abandoned, and in its place it was used a blue shield with a white representation of the Arena, waves in the base and a red five-pointed star in upper sinister corner. The flag was blue with the coat of arms in the middle. In mid-1990's the historical arms of Pula was reintroduced.

Rovinj – Rovigno

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The coat of arms of Rovinj is white with red cross, as it is case of a number of Istrian cities and towns. The characteristic of the cross of Rovinj is it arched form, probably derived from the representations of the oval concave shield typical for Italian heraldic influence. The modern representation of the coat of arms with the slanted cross was established in 19th century.
The flag of Rovinj is blue with the coat of arms flanked with golden leaves of oak and laurel in two vertical columns. The ceremonial flag is vertical with one pair of leaves ornaments.

Rovinj, ca. 1920

Rovigno

2:3~

With the end of 19th century and into the Italian rule before the World War II, the coat of arms topped with a heraldic crown and surrounded with laurel and oak branches was established. The flag of blue with the shield of the arms is recorded at the turn of the century.

Umag – Umago

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The coat of arms of Umag is a historical one, a golden lion standing atop two silver towers issuing from a wavy sea. The flag of Umag is "turquoise", with the coat of arms in the middle.

Until 1997 Umag had a community status.

Umag, 1990's

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The flag that still could be seen in Umag is probably a variant produced prior to the adoption of the current flag. It is bordered yellow and the coat of arms is off-set to hoist.

Vodnjan – Dignano

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The coat of arms of Vodnjan is Argent a Cross Gules not unlike several other Istrian cities and towns. The flag is yellow with the coat of arms in the middle. The ceremonial flag is a yellow gonfalon with the coat of arms in the middle, topped with a mural crown and surrounded with an olive and an oak branch tied with a light blue ribbon and the name of the community inscribed in two arches below in Croatian and Italian. Initially the inscription was Općina Vodnjan/Comune di Dignano, but when the city status was obtained in 2003, a new flag was made, reading Grad Vodnjan/Città di Dignano. The table flag is rectangular variation of the ceremonial flag.

Vodnjan – Dignano, ca. 1995 – 2003

The symbols of Vodnjan, based on its historical coat of arsm were adopted around 1995, when Vodnjan had the status of a community. The ceremonial flag then had appropriate inscription.

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Flags of the World