Flag of the Republic of Venice

What the flag looks like

A red banner edged with gold ornament, bearing the golden winged Lion of Saint Mark with a paw on an open book, and a fly cut into six tails.

What it means

The winged lion is the symbol of Saint Mark the Evangelist, the city's patron saint; the book is traditionally inscribed "Pax tibi Marce, evangelista meus" (Peace to you, Mark, my evangelist).

How to remember it

Venice flew a golden winged lion on red, its paw on an open book, with the fly split into six tails; no modern national flag looks anything like it.

Fun facts

• The six tails are often said to represent the six sestieri, or districts, of the city of Venice.
• The Republic ended in 1797, when the last doge, Ludovico Manin, abdicated as Napoleon's army approached.

Republic of Venice at a glance

Existed

697–1797

Today

Italy

Capital

Venice

Region

697–1797

Languages

Venetian

Flag adopted

Middle Ages