Altopascio

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ALTOPASCIO

Region : Toscana
Province : Lucca

Official blazon

Scudo azzurro, alla croce commissa (“Tau”) d’argento sovrastata da un lambello rosso.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on January 26, 1899.

The Tau 'T' cross in the base of the shield has connotations to the Order of St. James of Altopascio. It was founded by Augustinian monks in the 10^th century as a hospice for pilgrims travelling to Rome or Compostella through the region near Lucca. It became a military order before the 1st Crusade when the monks began to protect the pilgrims but this was not recognized by the Pope until 1239. In short, the order was the first of the militant crusading orders. The habit of the order was black or dark gray with the Tau cross in white on the left breast