Lisboa, the City of St. Vincent - Exploring the Symbols
The enduring symbolism of the cult of St. Vincent
By Lisboa Municipal Archive
in collaboration with the Office for Lisbon Studies
Coat of Arms of Lisbon (1939) by João Ricardo Silva and Afonso de DornelasLisboa Municipal Archive
Coat of Arms of the City of Lisbon
Lisbon’s coat of arms displays the insignia of St. Vincent – the boat and the crows – ensuring that the saint remains constantly present in the city’s life. We can see this symbolism replicated in official documents, municipal buildings, urban equipment and public art.
Book Carmesim (1502-08-30) by Manuel ILisboa Municipal Archive
St. Vincent in the Manuscripts of the Lisbon Municipal Archive
Representation of the city’s coat of arms on the opening page of the Livro dos Regimentos dos Vereadores e Oficiais da Câmara (Livro Carmesim), 1502.
Predating our present-day books, manuscripts consist of handwritten sheets of parchment or paper, organised into quires and booklets. The Lisbon Municipal Archive contains manuscripts that are fundamental for people wishing to study the history of Lisbon, such as the ones that are presented here, dating from the sixteenth century onwards.
Front page of the Livro dos Regimentos dos Ofícios Mecânicos da Cidade de Lisboa (...) (1572/1808) by Unidentified artistLisboa Municipal Archive
Representation of the city’s coat of arms on the front page of the manuscript Livro dos Regimentos dos Officiaes Mecanicos, 1572.
Front page of the Livro 1º do Tombo das Propriedades Foreiras ao Senado (1512/1771) by Unidentified artistLisboa Municipal Archive
Representation of the city’s coat of arms on the front page of the manuscript Livro Primeiro do Tombo das Propriedades Foreiras ao Senado, 1512-1771.
Front page of the Livro 2º do Tombo das Propriedades Foreiras ao Senado (1697) by Unidentified artistLisboa Municipal Archive
Representation of the city’s coat of arms on the front page of the manuscript Livro Segundo do Tombo das Propriedades Foreiras ao Senado, 1697.
Front page of Livro das Posturas da Cidade de Lisboa (1515/1733) by Unidentified artistLisboa Municipal Archive
Representation of the city’s coat of arms on the front page of the manuscript Livro das Posturas da Cidade de Lisbon, 1610.
Stamps
Archivists and librarians stamp their documents and books in order to identify the archive or library to which they belong. In the case of the Lisbon Municipal Archive, these marks of ownership display the symbol of the city.
The City’s Identification Mark
The symbolism of St. Vincent still continues today to be an important part of Lisbon’s identity, On the Council’s buildings and the city’s fountains, as well as on its street lamps, the traditional Portuguese pavements and the city’s public transport, we can find the boat and crows represented in a variety of materials and displayed in all kinds of places.
Marks of Ownership
Stone plaques bearing the symbol of Lisbon depicted in different ways, depending on the stone mason and the time when they were carved. These plaques can be found placed on buildings, fountains or other property belonging to the municipality.
Stone plaque denoting ownership (1950-09) by Eduardo PortugalLisboa Municipal Archive
Stone plaque denoting ownership, with a representation of a crow and the inscription "St. Vincent", in Rua das Farinhas, in Mouraria.
Stone plaque denoting ownership (1900/1999) by Unidentified artistLisboa Municipal Archive
Stone plaque denoting ownership, with a representation of a ship and two crows, the symbols of the city of Lisbon.
Fountain of Bica dos Olhos (2023-06-19) by José VicenteLisboa Municipal Archive
Fountain in Rua da Boavista, on the back of which is a representation of a ship referring to the legend of St. Vincent.
Stone with a coat of arms on the Fountain of Arroios (1360) by Unidentified artistLisboa Municipal Archive
Stone originating from the demolished Fountain of Arroios, with a representation of the Coats of Arms of the Kingdom of Portugal and Lisbon.
Street lamp (1953) by Judah BenolielLisboa Municipal Archive
City's urban equipment
The representation of the theme of St. Vincent is particularly notable in the city’s public lighting equipment, namely in the decoration of lamp-posts or consoles, such as this one, made from wrought iron and supporting a lantern. Other elements of the city’s urban equipment, such as lightning conductors, display similar representations.
Lightning conductor (1944-01) by Ferreira da CunhaLisboa Municipal Archive
Lightning conductor on a roof of the Miradouro de Montes Claros, in Benfica, with a representation of a ship flanked by two crows, the symbols of the city of Lisbon.
Portuguese Pavement
An artistic drawing of the boat of St. Vincent and the two crows, created with the aid of the cobblestones of the traditional Portuguese pavement, which covers large areas of Lisbon’s streets.
Tap to explore
The history of St. Vincent, the patron saint of Lisbon, is inseparably linked to the history of the city itself. The saint’s worship has endured over the centuries and still continues today to be a fundamental part of its memory and identity.
The transport of the saint’s relics over the sea in a boat accompanied by two crows is the main feature of Lisbon’s heraldic symbolism, with this scene being represented on the most diverse supports and providing an important embellishment to Lisbon’s daily life.
Continue your visit at: Lisbon, the City of St. Vincent - The Cult of the Saint.
COORDINATION
Helena Neves (Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa / Lisbon Municipal Archive) and Hélia Silva (Gabinete de Estudos Olisiponenses / Office for Lisbon Studies)
TEXTS AND SELECTION OF IMAGES
Hélia Silva, Edite Martins Alberto
PRODUCTION
Mariana Caldas de Almeida, Marta Gomes
REVISION
Maria José Silva, Carla Serapicos
TRANSLATION
John Elliott
IMAGE EDITING
Bruno Ferro, Jorge Baptista
EXTERNAL IMAGES | ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Branding and Communication Department (Departamento Marca e Comunicação / C.M.L.)
Office for Lisbon Studies (Gabinete de Estudos Olisiponenses / C.M.L.)
Museum of Lisbon (Museu de Lisboa / EGEAC / C.M.L.)
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