Foreign flags in Italy

In Italy the flags of other countries can be seen outside hotels, on the premises of international companies, on embassies and on the balconies of people with ties to another country. A specific law on flying foreign flags existed until 2000: Law no. 1085 of 24 June 1929, repealed by Law no. 22/1998 when its implementing regulation came into force. Today the rules are in D.P.R. no. 121/2000, in the guidance of the State Ceremonial Office and in articles 299 and 300 of the Penal Code.

Private individuals, hotels and companies

In its answers to frequently asked questions, the State Ceremonial Office distinguishes several cases:

Dignity, under article 9 of the regulation, means flags in good condition and properly unfurled, with no writing and one flag per staff. When a foreign flag is flown together with the Tricolore, the flags are commonly of the same size and at the same height.

Public buildings

Under article 8 of D.P.R. no. 121/2000, foreign flags are flown outside and inside public buildings only for:

• international conferences, meetings and events;
• official visits by foreign dignitaries;
• similar ceremonial reasons.

According to the State Ceremonial Office, the flags are flown only for the duration of the event. On 24 October, United Nations Day, public buildings fly the UN flag together with the Tricolore and the European flag.

The order of the flags

During visits by a head of state from a country outside the European Union, the Tricolore stays in the centre and the guest's flag goes on its right; when the guest comes from an EU country, the European flag goes in the centre, with the guest's flag on its right and the Tricolore on its left. The arrangements are described in the guide to flag protocol.

Embassies and consulates

Foreign diplomatic and consular missions in Italy fly their own State's flag in accordance with international law and their own rules. In the event of Italian national mourning, according to the State Ceremonial Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can ask foreign representatives accredited in Italy to fly their flags at half-mast.

Protection under criminal law

Article 299 of the Penal Code punishes with a fine of 100 to 1,000 euros anyone who, on Italian territory, insults with offensive expressions, in a public place or a place open or exposed to the public, the official flag or another emblem of a foreign State used in accordance with Italian law. Under article 300, the rule applies only if the law of the foreign State reciprocally grants the Italian flag equal protection under criminal law. The protection of the Tricolore is described in the guide to the flag rules.

Flags of communities and associations

On institutional public buildings, according to the Ceremonial Office, only official public flags may be flown, and not the flags of parties, associations or movements. A municipality wishing to show support for a movement can fly its banner, but not next to the national or European flag. The types of flags used in Italy are described in the guide to flag types, and solutions for company premises in the guide to flagpoles for businesses.