Spain Flag

Flag of Spain

Flag Description:three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar

Coat of Arms of Spain

The Spanish Coat of Arms is composed by six other coat of arms:

The gold castle in a red background, which symbolises Castile

The red lion in white background, symbolising León

The red and yellow stripes of Aragon

The golden chains of Navarre

The pomegranate flower of Granada

The fleur-de-lis of the House of Bourbon

On either side of the Coat of Arms are the Pillars of Hercules, an ancient name given to the Straits of Gibraltar. The phrase plus ultra means 'further beyond' in Latin, and in this context it means beyond the Straits of Gibraltar, referring to the Americas and the former Spanish territories. Over the pillars, an Imperial Crown on the left and a Royal Crown on the right. The symbol of the Pillars was first used by King Charles I of Spain who was also Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, which explains the presence of the Imperial Crown.