Official Palette
Symbolism
The tricolore represents hope (green), faith (white), and charity (red). A more geographic interpretation suggests green for the plains and hills, white for the snow-capped Alps, and red for the blood spilt during the Italian wars of independence.
History
Inspired by the French tricolor, the first Italian tricolor was used by the Cispadane Republic in 1797. It went through various iterations under the House of Savoy before being formally adopted as the national flag of the Italian Republic in 1946.
Construction
The flag has a 2:3 aspect ratio. It is a vertical tricolor of three equal bands of green, white, and red.
Color Meanings
Country Facts
- Population
- 58.9M
6.3% of Europe
- Capital
- Rome
- Languages
- Italian, Catalan
- Continent
- Europe
- Subregion
- Southern Europe
- Landlocked
- No
- ISO 3166-1
- IT
Flag Identification
- Adopted
- June 18, 1946
- Proportions
2:3 (≈1.500)
- Total Colors
- 3
- Primary Layout
- Vertical bands
Influences
Lookalike Comparison
Side-by-side analysis of high-confusion flags, comparing exact color shades, proportions, and historical divergence.
Direct Lookalike Comparison
Quick Tell
Italy is a plain 2:3 green-white-red tricolor; Mexico is 4:7 with the eagle coat of arms in the white band.
Color Shades & Hex Codes
Italy: Italian green
#009246
Mexico: Mexican green
#006847
Historical Divergence
Italy's republic tricolor dates to 1946 (first Italian tricolor 1797). Mexico's tricolor is from 1821; the current eagle drawing was adopted in 1968.
Flags with resemblance
Same green, white, and red vertical bands. Italy is plain at 2:3; Mexico is 4:7 with the eagle coat of arms in the white band.
Related flags
Flag Protocol
- The bands must be vertical and of equal width
- Must be treated with reverence as a symbol of the Republic
Practice
Think you know the flags of Europe? Test your recognition in a quick practice round.