Italian Flag: History, Colors and Meaning of the Tricolore (2026)

The Italian flag, the Tricolore, is three vertical bands of green, white and red. Italians fly it on balconies during football tournaments and national holidays, and it appears on every public building. However, the flag is older than the country itself. It first flew in Reggio Emilia in 1797, more than 60 years before Italy unified.

Last updated: September 25, 2026

The Italian flag at a glance

What the Constitution says about the Italian flag

The rule fits in one sentence. Article 12 states: “La bandiera della Repubblica è il tricolore italiano: verde, bianco e rosso, a tre bande verticali di eguali dimensioni.” In English, “The flag of the Republic is the Italian tricolor: green, white and red, in three vertical bands of equal size.”

The Constituent Assembly approved the article on March 24, 1947, according to the Quirinale (checked September 2026). Members and the public gallery stood and applauded. In practice, when the flag flies from a pole, the green band sits next to it.

Where the Italian flag was born: Reggio Emilia, 1797

In the 1790s, Napoleon’s campaigns created short-lived republics in northern Italy. On January 7, 1797, the parliament of one of them, the Cispadane Republic, met in Reggio Emilia. According to the Quirinale, it decreed that its green, white and red standard should “be made universal”. The first version had horizontal bands; then the Cisalpine Republic switched to vertical bands in 1798.

Later, during the Risorgimento, patriots carried the tricolor in the uprisings of 1848. From 1848 to 1946, the Kingdom used the tricolor with the Savoy coat of arms in the white band. Finally, after the 1946 referendum, the Republic removed the shield and kept the plain tricolor.

What the colors of the Italian flag mean

Officially, nothing. Instead, the Quirinale traces the colors to Milan. White and red came from the city’s ancient emblem, a red cross on white. Green came from the uniforms of Milan’s civic guard in 1782.

Still, you will hear popular interpretations. For example, some say green stands for the plains, white for Alpine snow and red for the blood of war. Others read them as hope, faith and charity. These are pleasant stories, but none has legal status.

Visitors sometimes confuse the flag with others. For instance, Mexico uses the same colors with an emblem in the center, and Ireland’s flag has orange instead of red.

Tricolor Day and the Italian flag today

Law 671 of 1996 made January 7 the national Flag Day. It was first celebrated in 1997, the flag’s 200th birthday, according to Wikipedia (checked September 2026). It is a national celebration, not a public holiday, so shops and offices stay open. Meanwhile, ceremonies take place in Reggio Emilia and at the Quirinal Palace in Rome.

You will also see the flag on other dates. For example, on June 2, Republic Day, the tricolor dominates the parade in Rome. In addition, March 17 honors national unity, the Constitution, the anthem and the flag; read about the Italian national anthem for that story.

Visit the Museo del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia

The flag’s birthplace is a working town hall. The Sala del Tricolore, where the Cispadane parliament met, still hosts the city council. Next door, the Museo del Tricolore tells the flag’s story across two floors. According to the Musei Civici of Reggio Emilia, the museum sits in the town hall at Piazza Casotti 1 (checked September 2026). Check opening hours on the official site before you go, because they change.

Reggio Emilia also sits in the heart of Parmigiano Reggiano country. So pair the visit with the Parma food tour with Parmigiano and prosciutto or the Modena balsamic vinegar tour. For a wider base, see our guide to things to do in Bologna, a short train ride away.

Keep discovering Italy. Three colors tell a long story. These guides tell the rest of it.

• interesting facts about Italy: checked numbers and stories.
• what Made in Italy means: what the label really guarantees.
• regions of Italy: the twenty regions and what makes each one different.
• Bologna itinerary: Emilia-Romagna’s capital, in the region where the Tricolore was born.

Italian flag: frequently asked questions

What do the colors of the Italian flag mean?

They have no official meaning. Historically, white and red came from Milan’s civic emblem and green from its civic guard. Readings such as hope, faith and charity are only traditions.

When was the Italian flag created?

The Cispadane Republic adopted the green, white and red tricolor in Reggio Emilia on January 7, 1797.

What does the Italian Constitution say about the flag?

Article 12 says the flag is the Italian tricolor: green, white and red, in three vertical bands of equal size.

Is Tricolor Day a public holiday in Italy?

No. January 7 is a national celebration with official ceremonies, but shops and offices stay open.

Where can I learn about the history of the Italian flag?

Visit the Museo del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia’s town hall. It stands next to the Sala del Tricolore, where the parliament adopted the flag.