The flag of the city of Quito and of the canton of Quito is defined by Article 1 of a municipal law known as Ordenanza Municipal N° 1634, passed in 1974, when Sixto Durán Ballén was mayor of Quito. The flag is divided into six equally wide vertical bands, of which the inner four are red and the outer two are blue. Article 1 also recommends that the flags be 2.40 meters by 1.60 meters, which makes it a proportion of 3 by 2. The exact shades of red and blue are not specified in that law, but the colors are meant to represent the blood of Quiteños and the seas and skies, respectively. In the center of the flag is the coat of arms of the city, or sometimes only the more simple castle, which symbolizes strength, nobility and loyalty to the city.