official site for visitors to Bratislava  

The coat of arms depicts, on a red late-Gothic background, a silver, three-towered fortification with a gate in the centre. There are two golden spheres atop each tower and a golden, half-raised portcullis in the gate. It is a common misconception that the coat of arms represents Bratislava Castle or one of the city's four mediaeval gates (Michael's Gate, Laurinc Gate, Fish(ermen's) Gate or Vydrica Gate). In fact, it simply represents a general depiction of a mediaeval town.