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# Vila do Bispo e Raposeira United Commune (Portugal)

## União das Freguesias de Vila do Bispo e Raposeira, Concelho de Vila do Bispo, Distrito de Faro

Last modified: 2026-07-18 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: vila do bispo(freguesia) | raposeira(vila do bispo) | base(wavy) | mitre | wheat(ear) | wreath | cross(order of christ) | dolphin |
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## União das Freguesias de Vila do Bispo e Raposeira, Concelho de Vila do Bispo, Distrito de Faro

2:3, image by António Martins-Tuválkin and Sérgio Horta, 9 Feb 2026

- Vila do Bispo e Raposeira United Commune

- Flag
- Coat of Arms
- Presentation of Vila do Bispo e Raposeira

- Former Vila do Bispo Commune (until 2013)

- Flag
- Coat of Arms
- Presentation of Vila do Bispo

- Former Raposeira Commune (until 2013)

- Flag
- Coat of Arms
- Presentation of Raposeira

See also:

- Vila do Bispo Municipality
- Portugal
- English WIKIPEDIA

## Vila do Bispo e Raposeira United Commune

### Flag

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a field quartered of yelow and green.
Source: Sérgio Horta´s webpage
António Martins-Tuválkin, 9 Feb 2026

### Coat of Arms

image by António Martins-Tuválkin and Sérgio Horta, 9 Feb 2026

Shield Vert a mitre Or with lappets Argent and two wheat sheaves Or ordered 1:2, on base wavy Argent a bar way Vert. Mural crown Argent with four visible towers (town rank) and white scroll with inscription in black initials "VILA DO BISPO E RAPOSEIRA"
Meaning: This name means literally "Bishoptown" and "Foxhole" and sounds as funny i n Portuguese: Alas, another missed of opportunity for some high impactcanting heraldry. The communal arms of Vila do Bispo showed the same elements and even colours. The only difference being standalone wheat sheaves having replaced two tied up wheat ear pairs. adly nothing specific remains in use from the striking communal arms of Raposeira with its zoologically correct shape dolphins; even its wavy base is common to both other coats of arms, neighbouring and successor. The mitre, alluding to a bishop is canting. The base wavy is a representation of the Atlantic Ocean. The sheaves symbolis the cultivation of cereals.
Sources: Ralf Hartemink´s webpage and
António Martins-Tuválkin, 9 Feb 2026

Published in Diário da República: II Série on 19 August 2015 see here and here
António Martins-Tuválkin, 9 Feb 2026

### Presentation of Vila do Bispo e Raposeira

Vila do Bispo e Raposeira is the only commune of Vila do Bispo Municipality created by a merger; it had 1380 inhabitants in 2021 and covers 84,22 km².
António Martins-Tuválkin, 9 Feb 2026

### Former Vila do Bispo Commune (until 2013)

#### Flag

2:3, image by António Martins-Tuválkin and Sérgio Horta, 7 Apr 2026

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain white field.
Source: Sérgio Horta´s webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 15 Aug 2015

#### Coat of Arms

image by António Martins-Tuválkin and Sérgio Horta, 7 Apr 2026

Shield Vert with base wavy of Argent and Vert, a mitre Or garnished Gules with scarves Or flanked by two pairs of wheat ears Or connected in base. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll with inscription in black initials "FREGUESIA DE VILA DO BISPO".
Source: Ralf Hartemink´s webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 15 Aug 2015

Published in Diário da República: III Série on 4 October 2001, see here
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 15 Aug 2015

#### Presentation of Vila do Bispo

Vila do Bispo Commune was one of the pre-2013 communes of Vila do Bispo Municipality; it had 918 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 58,44 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 15 Aug 2015

### Former Raposeira Commune (until 2013)

#### Flag

2:3 image by Sérgio Horta, 15 Aug 2015

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain blue field.
Source: Sérgio Horta´s webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 15 Aug 2015

#### Coat of Arms

image by António Martins-Tuválkin and Sérgio Horta, 9 Apr 2026

Shield Argent with base wavy of Vert and Argent, a cross patty Gules voided Argent surrounded by a wreath of oak branches Vert, all supported by two dolphins saltant Azure eyed Gules. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll with inscription in black initials "RAPOSEIRA - VILA DO BISPO"
Meaning:
The cross is that one of the Order of the Knights of Christ. The original blazon prescribes a specific oak species, "carrasqueiro", which, although botanically so (Latin: Quercus coccifera), is not a tree, but a shrub — in English the kermes oak, holly oak, or Palestine oak.
Sources: Sérgio Horta´s webpage and

- English WIKIPEDIA
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 15 Aug 2015 and António Martins-Tuválkin, 9 Apr 2026

Published in Diário da República: III Série on 27 November 2000, see here
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 15 Aug 2015

#### Presentation of Raposeira

Raposeira Commune was one of the pre-2013 communes of Vila do Bispo Municipality; it had 460 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 25.7 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 15 Aug 2015

back to Vila do Bispo Communes click here