Today’s celebrations for the Festa del Tricolore placed the Italian flag at the center of national life, with ceremonies in Rome attended by President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The anniversary marks January 7, 1797, when the green, white, and red banner was officially adopted, an event that took place 228 years ago and laid the foundations for one of Italy’s most enduring national symbols.
At the Quirinale Palace, the heart of today’s observances was the solemn changing of the honor guard in Piazza del Quirinale. Shortly after 3 p.m., the Corazzieri Regiment, wearing full ceremonial uniform, carried out the ritual alongside the mounted fanfare of the Carabinieri Cavalry Regiment. The combination of military precision, historical uniforms, horses, and live music turned the square into a public stage, drawing citizens and visitors alike. The musical program included ceremonial marches and the national anthem, reinforcing the symbolic link between the armed forces, state institutions, and civic identity.
President Mattarella followed the ceremony from the Quirinale, emphasizing the role of the Tricolore as a unifying symbol that has accompanied Italy through monarchy, unification, war, and the birth of the Republic. He underlined how the flag continues to represent democratic values, constitutional principles, and national cohesion in a rapidly changing international context.
Prime Minister Meloni also took part in today’s celebrations, highlighting the flag as a shared reference point for Italians at home and abroad. In her remarks, she stressed the importance of national symbols in strengthening a sense of belonging, especially for younger generations. According to Meloni, the Tricolore embodies freedom, responsibility, and the sacrifices made over time to build a sovereign and democratic country.
The Rome ceremony is part of a broader national program that traditionally includes events in Reggio Emilia, where the flag was first proclaimed at the end of the 18th century. Together, these initiatives aim to renew respect for the national emblem and to connect historical memory with present-day civic life.
Alongside Republic Day on June 2 and National Unity and Armed Forces Day on November 4, the Festa del Tricolore remains one of the few occasions when Italy’s most solemn institutional rituals are opened to the public. Today’s celebrations reaffirmed the enduring power of the flag as a symbol of unity, continuity, and shared national values.
