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# Collina d'Oro commune (Ticino canton, Switzerland)

##

Last modified: 2026-04-04 by martin karner
Keywords: collina d'oro | agra | carabietta | gentilino | montagnola |
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images located by Martin Karner

Another example of an emblem where the heraldic rules were not applied. Beginning with the sun, whose rays usually are depicted as
yellow rays, not as straight black lines (it could be misinterpreted as a water wheel oder gear wheel). But since the sky is already yellow,
which is a bad choice to put a sun onto it, they couldn't be yellow anymore (The communal website says, the twelve rays refer to the hours
and the changing of the seasons [?]). The green mount refers to the hill, from which the new commune got its name. Since Collina d'Oro
means "Golden Hill", it would have been appropriate to colour it yellow, but the yellow sky and sun wouldn't like this. The blue wavy part
represents the Lago di Lugano, the yellow wave probably the reflecting sun on the water. The red square refers to the master architects
native to these places. The website states: "Due to its red color and its dynamic 45 (?) degree arrangement, it also signifies culture as an
element of dialectical contrast with nature and due to its shape the square also acquires the value of a sign suitable for indicating
an interesting place."
And then there is something very special, perhaps unique in the world of flags and arms. The white wave is made white by flagmakers
because they have no real alternative. The coat of arms reveals that the "white" wave is just an empty space! (see CoA above) To be true
to the CoA, the flag should actually be cut into two pieces ... The website says: "The white undulation (open on the sides) represents the
road that runs alongside and encloses the hill, but at the same time it is an expression of a street that opens up to the rest of the world."
Ticino is always surprising! (source)
The Collina d'Oro commune was formed on 4 April 2004 of the communes of Agra, Gentilino and Montagnola. On 1 April 2012 the commune of Carabietta joined (see below).

- Agra
- Carabietta
- Gentilino
- Montagnola

See also:

- Lugano district
- Ticino canton
- Switzerland

## Agra (until 3 April 2004)

image by Pascal Gross

Gules a woodpecker proper on a bend argent.
Željko Heimer, 24 June 2003

The bird on the flag of Agra is a woodpecker (in Italian picchio) which alludes to the nickname (Picun) given to the inhabitants.
Pascal Gross, 23 June 2003

## Carabietta (until 31 March 2012)

image by Pascal Gross

Gules a wall embattled fourché Argent masoned Sable issuant from a base Azure with two barrulets wavy of the Second.
Christopher Southworth

## Gentilino (until 3 April 2004)

image by Pascal Gross

Per pale argent a violin gules and azure a deer tirppant of the first.
Željko Heimer, 6 July 2003

The musical instrument on the flag of Gentilino is a violin and alludes to the stringed-instrument maker Brocca who lived there at the end of the 17th century, the animal being a deer.
Pascal Gross, 6 July 2003

## Montagnola (until 3 April 2004)

image by Pascal Gross

Or a barn-owl vert sitting on closed compasses gules fesswise points to dexter.
Željko Heimer, 9 July 2003

On the flag of Montagnola, the compasses, on which the barn-owl (in Italian civetta after the nickname given to the inhabitants) is perched, alludes to the numerous artists and engineers given by the village to the country and abroad.
Pascal Gross, 9 July 2003