Flag of Italy

The national flag of Italy features three vertical bands of equal width. Arranged from left to right, the stripes are colored green, white, and red. This rectangular design follows a 2:3 aspect ratio and is devoid of any additional symbols or inscriptions.

Green is frequently associated with the Mediterranean maquis and the Italian landscape, while white symbolizes the snow of the Alps. The red stripe commemorates the blood shed during the Risorgimento and the struggles for national independence. In a different context, the colors are sometimes linked to the theological virtues of hope, faith, and charity.

The tricolor design first emerged in 1797 as the banner of the Cispadane Republic, influenced by the revolutionary flag of France. During the period of the Kingdom of Italy starting in 1861, the central white stripe featured the coat of arms of the House of Savoy. Upon the establishment of the Italian Republic in 1946, the current plain version was formally adopted to represent the new democratic state.