Italy

Italy
Adopted	June 18, 1946
Proportions	2:3

The flag of Italy is an equal vertical tricolor of red, white, and green. It was originally the flag of the Cisalpine Republic, a sister republic to France which was located in Northern Italy.

The flag was officially adopted on June 18, 1946, and designed by an unknown author.

Symbolism

The italian tricolor originates from the French flag, from the revolution, with the blue stripe on the hoist replaced with a green stripe. Some rumors mention Napoleon’s favorite color was green, but actually represented natural human rights, like equality and freedom.

A more religious and philosophical interpretation is that green represents hope, white represents faith, and red represents charity (as in love), in reference to the three theological virtues.

History

The original version of the Italian flag had been the flag of the Cisalpine Republic, which had been the current variant with 1:1 proportions. The tricolor had been given by Napoleon, and had been unofficially adopted in 1797, and officially readopted in 1946.

Italian Republic

Main article: Italian Republic

The flag of the Italian Republic was a red background, with a white diamond that covers the entire flag, with a green rectangle in the center of the flag. The colors were taken from the original flag of the Cisalpine Republic, and had stayed until 1805, and unofficially 1814.

Kingdom of Italy

Main article: Kingdom of Italy

The flag of the Kingdom of Italy was a vertical tricolor of green, white, and red, with the kingdom's coat of arms in the center of the flag. The colors had still been taken from the two predecessing nations.

Nicknames

• Green, white, and red
  • Verde, bianco e rosso
• The Tricolour