The Flag of Spain

The Spanish flag has a central yellow stripe that is twice as wide as tall as each red band beside it. The coat of arms of Spain is on the yellow band, towards the flagpole side.

The Spanish coat of arms consists of two crown-topped pillars of Hercules with red banners wrapped round them displaying the Latin words, "PLUS ULTRA," meaning "More Beyond," referring to Columbus' discovery of the New World. The two columns are on either side of a shield of 4 quarters - a castle, a lion with a crown, red and yellow vertical stripes, chain mail, with three fleurs-de-lis in an oval in the center. A red and golden crown sits on top of the shield.

The columns are the Pillars of Hercules, which represent Gibraltar and Ceuta on either side of the Strait of Gibraltar.

Legend says that the colours of the Spanish flag come from the bullfight arena - with the red representing the blood and the yellow the sand of the arena. The colours of the flag of Spain were more likely to have been chosen as they were the colours of King Ferdinand´s coat of arms.

The current flag has changed slightly over the years, but its basic evolution has been:-

The design for the flag of Spain was selected on May 25th 1785 for a new Spanish war ensign by King Charles III Up till then the Spanish war ensign was plain white with the Spanish arms in the centre, and was not easily differentiated from other European Bourbon-ruled countries like France, Parma, Tuscany or Two Sicilies
It became the lag for Spanish Navy buildings by the General Navy Regulations 1793.
State and War Flag and Ensign by Royal Decree of October 13th 1843;
State and War Flag (including civil use) and Ensign by Decree July 27th 1938
National flag 1977
National flag (with the current arms) 1981. In 1981 the eagle disappeared from the Spanish national flag.

Details on

Official Spainsh Government Site on Coat of Arms

Spanish Government Page on the Flag of Spain

Spanish Flag Wikipedia

Spain Tourist Information About Spain for tourists