Flag of Andalusia

As you may know, Spain is a decentralised unitary state that has devolved power to autonomies, the 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities, each proud of their paraphernalia, including anthems, flags, dialects, communal celebrations and customs, gastronomic delights, etc. In that respect, the Andalusian anthem and flag are, without a doubt, the pride of Andalusia. People tend to decorate their balconies with the green and white flag in case of any event held that day in town. 

Flags of autonomous communities of Spain. Image taken from 20minutes.es

The flag of Andalusia is traditional and easy to understand. It consists of three horizontal stripes - green, white and green - of equal width. The flag features the coat of arms of Andalusia reproduced on the middle field of the flag on both sides of it. The coat of arms shows young Hercules between the two columns that legend places in the Strait of Gibraltar with an inscription at his feet. The columns are linked together by an arch that also has an inscription on it. The design is clean and simple, although I wouldn't say that the texts are proportionate and balance the background composition, but all in all, the flag is visually easy on eye. As this is not an exactly proportional font for readability that has been used, the following is aimed to save your time and help you in reading the lettering. The arch inscription in yellow capital letters reads: "Dominator Hercules Fundator" (Sovereign Hercules, the Founder) and the bottom one: “Andalucía por sí, para España y la Humanidad” (Andalusia for itself, Spain and Humanity).

Flag of Andalusia. Image taken from Wikipedia

Blas Infante is known as the designer of the flag. He chose the green as corresponding to the rule of the Umayyads (the Arab dynasty that incorporated Al-Andalus into the Muslim world and governed it in the form of an Emirate and a Caliphate from 756 until 1031), and the white to the Almohads (the Moroccan Berber-Muslim dynasty that governed Al-Andalus in the form of a Caliphate from mid 12th century until 1212) for considering these two the periods when the political power centered in the current territory of Andalusia reached its highest glory. It doesn't mean that Blas Infante praised being under a foreing reign influence. It was a broader picture he had in mind, the greater good for the region. After all, metaphorically speaking, the life in Andalusia is still striped, it just may be today a bit more colourful.

Provinces of Andalusia, depicted in "Umayyad" green, assimilating people from different backgrounds

Besides, together with this historical meaning would co-exist a symbolical meaning, identifying the green with hope and the white with peace (both forever relevant), as expressed by the regional anthem. Beautiful symbolism, isn't it? Let alone, it's not a homogenous society, but a region where contrasts enrich the whole picture of social intercourse. It's the melting of cultural identity of the former Arab-Muslim population during the integration into Andalusia that had given step to the identification between the Arabian or Moorish culture and the Andalusian culture.