Editing Merano (section)

===Coat of arms===

[[File:Postbruecke Meran 3.jpg|thumb|right|The city's coat of arms on the ''Postbrücke'' (postal bridge)]]

The city's [[coat of arms]] depicts the red Tyrolean eagle sitting on a wall with four pieces of Ghibelline battlements and three arches that symbolize the city. The arms is known from the 14th century and the oldest seal dates from 1353, while the coloured one since 1390. In a 1759 image, the eagle is represented with a crown and a green wreath of honour. After World War I and the annexation of the city from Austria-Hungary to Italy, it was given a new coat of arms in 1928, which looked similar to the old one, but with five parts of the battlements and the arches with the gates opened on a lawn of shamrock. A mural crown was placed above the shield.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ngw.nl/int/ita/m/meran.htm |title=Meran – Merano |author=Ralf Hartemink |year=1996 |work=Heraldry of the World |access-date=17 June 2011}}</ref> The five parts of the battlement represented the districts of Maia Bassa, Merano (old city), Maia Alta, Quarazze and [[Avelengo]], which were incorporated into the city by the Italian fascists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rathaus_Meran_3.jpg |title=Image of the coat of arms during the Italian fascist period |author=Gryffindor |year=2011 |publisher=Wikimedia Commons |access-date=17 June 2011}}</ref> After World War II, Avelengo became independent again and the historical coat of arms was restored.<ref>{{cite book |last=Prünster |first=Hans |title=Die Wappen der Gemeinden Südtirols |trans-title=The coat of arms of the municipalities of South Tyrol |series=Etschlandbücher |volume=7 |year=1972 |publisher=Landesverband für Heimatpflege in Südtirol |location=Bozen |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Gall |first=Franz |title=Österreichischer Wappenkalender |year=1960 |language=de}}</ref>