Flag of Italy
The
Flag of Italy is a
tricolour containing three vertical bands of green, white, and red (left, or hoist side, to right). It derives from the one adopted by the Repubblica Cispadana in
1797. This flag was inspired by a flag brought to
Italy by Emperor
Napoleon Bonaparte. It was adopted in this form on 1/1/
1948 with the adoption of the republican constitution. A previous version showed in the middle of the white stripe the Savoia's (
Italy's ruling dinasty until the end of World War II) coat of arms.
This is similar to the
Flag of Ireland, which is green, white and orange, and is the opposite of the
Côte d'Ivoire flag, which is red, white and green. It shows also resemblance with the flag of
Mexico.