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![[Rocha Department Flag]](../images/u/uy-ro.gif)
image by Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025Rocha lies in eastern of Uruguay, population 68,088 (2011 census).
Some details about the flag of Rocha, which seems to be one of the
oldest in Uruguay, but one of last to be known.
July 22, 1992: A contest
for the flag of Rocha was resolved but the mayor selected the design in second
position instead of the winner (winner and second were both designed by the same
man, named C.J. López), considering it more representative.
October 18,
1993: The winner design is recognized by the departmental Junta.
July 22,
1994: The mayor declared the winner design, but it seems that it was not used.
November 24, 1997: The mayor authorized the end its official use.
Jaume Ollé, 17 September 2014
The cultural assessor of the Intendency, Rosalío Pereyra proposed the
contest on 3 July 1991. Luis de Lizarza, Carlos Tonelli, and Ruben Luraschi
were named as the jury in the contest. The design by Carlos Julio López Nieves,
originally from the city of Chuy, was declared on 22 July 1992.
The flag
depicts the colors of the flag of Artigas, recognizing the independence heroes;
these colors are found in the form of a horizontal triband of (top to bottom)
blue, red, white. In the center is a white shield with five battlements at the
top. Just above the inner section, it reads ROCHA in black. The inner section
depicts the Santa Teresa Fortress for its history in gold. On each side of the
shield is a palm tree, in white (top part) and blue, as typically found in the
environment. Above is the Sun of May, representing the fact it is the
easternmost part of the country (where the sun rises) and references the
national flag.
Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025
![[Rocha Department Flag]](../images/u/uy-ro!.gif)
image by Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025
based on photo from
https://www.mercadolibre.com.uy
This variant is sold online, depicting the department coat of arms in the center over the three bands. In reality, this design is not used.
Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025
![[flag]](../images/u/uy-ro).gif)
image
by Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025
The coat of arms is notably different from the design on the flag. It was
declared as official by the departmental assembly on 27 July 1930, being
designed by Technical Inspection Assistant José A. Ribot. Later, it was sent to
the President of the Council on 30 June. Previously, Ribot presented it to the
council president in 1926, used unofficially as early as 1928 for the
inauguration of the train to Montevideo. The shield has the colors of the
Artigas flag, having a blue upper half and a silver lower half; a red diagonal
goes from the top-left to the bottom-right, and this background recognizes the
heroes of the Independence. The upper-right depicts the Santa Teresa Fortress
for its history, while the lower-left depicts two palm trees for the nature.
Surrounding the shield are two branches, one of palm tree (left) and oak
(right). Tying the branches together at the bottom is a white ribbon which reads
AQUI NACE EL SOL DE LA PATRIA [Here is where the Sun of the Fatherland Rises];
with ROCHA read in its center; this is because Rocha is the easternmost part of
the country. Serving as the crest to the shield is the Sun of May, recognizing
the nation and its motto.
Source:
https://www.rocha.gub.uy/portal/index.php
Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025
