San Giovanni in Fiore

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SAN GIOVANNI IN FIORE

Region : Calabria
Province : Cosenza

Official blazon
Italian	Di verde, al pino laricio d'argento eradicato, attraversato dalla fascia posta in sbarra abbassata, caricata di tre stelle d'argento di cinque raggi poste a piombo, attraversante il capo d'azzurro accantonato nel canton destro dalla mitra al naturale e nel canton sinistro dalla cometa d'oro, ondeggiante in sbarra. Ornamenti esteriori di Comune.
English	Giovanni in Fiore No blazon/translation known. Please click here to send your (heraldic !) blazon or translation

Origin/meaning

The larch tree refers to the Sila mountain region in the areas, which is heavily forested. The three stars refer to three main points in the history of the town. These are the founding of the local abbey in 1188, the development of a village around the abbey in 1530 and the Italian unification in 1850. The mitre also refers to the abbey.

The meaning of the comet is not clear. It may refer to the sighting of Haley's Comet on the day of the consecration of the new abbey on 28 September 1222, or as a symbol for the birth of Christ.

The shield is surmounted by a noble crown that would recall the temporal government granted by the kings to the abbots.

The shield is surrounded by the standard oak and olive branches for Italian municipalities, but as an addition an bunch of flowers (canting for 'in Fiore') is added.

On the first page of the Onciario Cadastre of San Giovanni in Fiore (dating back to 1752-53), preserved in the State Archives of Naples, there is another coat of arms for San Giovanni in Fiore, consisting of a circle with the full figure of St. John the Baptist, and the words: "S: IO: FLORE". This image can also be seen on the bell commissioned by Abbot Gioacchino Tambati, in the bell tower of the abbey, cast in 1744.