Flag protocol in Italy

When several flags are flown together, their order follows precise rules. In Italy the basic rules are in article 2 of D.P.R. no. 121/2000, and the State Ceremonial Office illustrates them with examples for the buildings of the State, the regions and the municipalities. This guide summarises the place of honour, the position of the European flag and local banners, the order with foreign guests and the order at ceremonies.

The place of honour

The right is that of the person flying the flag. In its answers to frequently asked questions, the Ceremonial Office explains that this is the right of someone looking out from the balcony or window, which corresponds to the left for someone watching from the street.

Regions, provinces and municipalities

Under article 12 of the regulation, the national and European flags are flown together with the authority's banner or gonfalone whenever that is displayed, respecting the priority dignity of the national flag. In the State Ceremonial Office's examples:

• three poles: the Tricolore in the centre, the flag of the European Union on its right and the banner of the region, province or municipality on its left;
• four poles, on the buildings of provinces or municipalities that also fly the regional flag: the arrangement is shown in a diagram in the Ceremonial Office's publication "La Bandiera", always with the Tricolore in the position of greatest dignity.

The regional laws of Liguria, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sicily and Apulia describe the same three-pole arrangement: Tricolore in the centre, European flag on its right and regional flag on its left. In Piedmont and Friuli Venezia Giulia, the flag of the community concerned may also be flown on the public buildings of municipalities where linguistic minorities live.

Foreign guests

The State Ceremonial Office illustrates two cases for visits by a head of state:

• guest from a country outside the European Union: the Tricolore stays in the centre, the guest's flag goes on its right and the European flag on its left;
• guest from a member state of the European Union: the European flag goes in the centre, the guest's flag on its right and the Tricolore on its left.

On a local authority building with four poles, during a visit by a foreign guest of equal or higher rank than the host, the guest's flag goes between the European and Italian flags, and the banner of the region, province or municipality moves to fourth position. The rules for the flags of other countries are described in the guide to foreign flags in Italy.

The order at ceremonies

Under article 5 of the regulation, when the national flag is carried at public ceremonies it takes first place. In its answers to frequently asked questions, the Ceremonial Office gives this order:

1. war flags;
2. decorated national flags;
3. undecorated national flags;
4. decorated gonfalons;
5. decorated medal banners and labari;
6. gonfalons of regions, provinces and municipalities;
7. insignia of associations.

When entering a hall the order is reversed, while on leaving it is the normal order.

Inside offices

In the offices listed in article 6 of the regulation, such as those of ministers and directors-general, the national and European flags are displayed on floor-standing staffs behind the desk, with the national flag in the place of honour on the right or in the centre. In a hall, according to the Ceremonial Office, the flag is placed to the right of the presiding table or in the centre of the most important wall.

Businesses and private individuals

In its answers to frequently asked questions, the Ceremonial Office states that a company that also flies its own flag places it at a point separate from the national flag. Only official public flags may be flown on institutional public buildings. Solutions for company premises are described in the guide to flagpoles for businesses.