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Visnjan (Istria, Croatia)

Općina Višnjan, Visignano

Last modified: 2008-09-13 by dov gutterman
Keywords: istria | visnjan | visignano |
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image by Željko Heimer, 4 November 2006



See also:

Other sites:

  • Collection of Croatian Local Flags at FAME

Overview

Višnjan is a community som 20 km due west of Pazin. Population 2,500, some 600 in the town of the same name. The Italian name of the place is Visignano. The town is most well know by a globaly significant astronomical observatory run by the local school, specialise dn finding the new asteroids in the Solar system. The observatory site webmasters provided me with the most info on the višnjan symbos: Zvjezdarnica Višnjan <astro.visnjan.hr> 1998. and 2003.   The coat of arms pictures a fortified city with opened gates and path leading to it between a tower topped with a flag and an olive tree. The coat of arms was granted in 1828 by Emperor Franciscus I and picture the city as it was then - a fortified city with the church of St. Anthony that was outside the city walls, as well as the olives that was the main production at the time.   There is no flag used by Višnjan at this time.
Željko Heimer, 23 August 2004

Korado from višnjan observatory informed me on October 2006 that the community of Višnjan was finally approved the symbols by the Central State Office for Administration. The newly approved symbols slightly differ from the traditional one granted in 1828 - namely the olive tree was replaced by a laurel tree and the path leading to the city from the Coat of Arms base was removed (this was explained as removing unnecessery and unheraldic complexity - although the people in Višnjan do not quite comprehend what was wrong with olive tree and why there should be a laurel one that has nothing to do with Višnjan, while olives there has long tradition...). 
The flag was approved in 2006 as well: red in ratio 1:2 with the Coat of Arms set in the middle bordered yellow. The Ceremonial Flag was also made: a red gonfalon with three triangularly ending golden finged tails, with the coat of arms in the middle between an olive and a vine branche below and the name of the community above.   The photos of the flag and ceremonial flag are available on the Višnjan observatory site.
Željko Heimer, 4 November 2006

The symbols were designed by the Heraldic Art d.o.o. from Rijeka.
Željko Heimer, 3 November 2007

The official web site of the community now includes also the official gazette that contains the decision on the Coat of Arms and flag: Odluka o grbu, zastavi i lenti Opcine Višnjan, 30. ožujka 2006, Službeni glasnik Opcine Višnjan, br. 1/2007.
So the current symbols were adopted on 30 March 2006. A footnote after the text of the decision in the gazette mentions also that this decision was approved by the Central state office for administration on 2 April 2007, with their act numbered kl. UP/I-017-01/06-01/38, urbr. 515-10/06-07-2.
It may also be interesting to note that Višnjan is among a few communities in Croatia having prescribed a sash for the community mayor, being 10 cm wide ribbon in the colour of the flag with the coat of arms set in the middle of it on the front side, to be used in ceremonial occasions.
Željko Heimer, 3 August 2008


Ceremonial Flag


image by Željko Heimer, 4 November 2006


Coat of Arms


image by Željko Heimer, 4 November 2006

Previous Coat of Arms


image by Željko Heimer

The traditional coat of arms granted in 1828 by Emperor Franciscus I pictures a fortified city with opened gates and path leading to it between a tower topped with a flag and an olive tree.
Željko Heimer