Flag of Italy
Officially Italian Republic
Locally Italia
What the flag looks like
Three equal vertical stripes of green, white and red from the hoist.
What it means
The tricolor was inspired by the French flag; green, white and red are popularly said to represent hope, faith and charity.
How to remember it
Italy
reads like a pizza margherita from the flagpole: basil, mozzarella, tomato; Ireland
ends in orange, and Mexico
adds an eagle.
Fun facts
- It was first adopted by the Cispadane Republic in Reggio Emilia on 7 January 1797, now celebrated as Italy's Flag Day.
- The royal Savoy coat of arms was removed from the center when Italy became a republic in 1946.
Italy at a glance
- Capital
- Rome
- Region
- Southern Europe
- Population
- 59 million
- Area
- 301,336 km²
- Languages
- Italian
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Flag adopted
- 1946
Flags often confused with Italy
- Mexico: Italy and Mexico are both green, white and red vertical stripes. Mexico has an eagle-and-cactus coat of arms in the center and a longer shape; Italy's flag is plain.
- Ireland: Ireland and Italy both have vertical stripes starting green, then white. The last stripe differs: orange for Ireland, red for Italy.
- Hungary: Hungary and Italy are both red, white and green. Hungary's stripes are horizontal, red on top; Italy's are vertical, green at the hoist.
- France: France and Italy both have vertical stripes with white in the middle and red at the fly. France starts with blue; Italy starts with green.