Reggio Emilia and the Tricolour Flag

For those who love the Tricolour and what it has represented in the modern history of our country, Reggio Emilia will become a mandatory destination. 
In particular, a visit to the Tricolour Flag Room and the annex Tricolour Flag Museum is absolutely necessary for discovering the true spirit of the city, a rebellious side that fought to rid itself of ancient servitude and to gain control of its future, a future of freedom and equality.
The Italian flag was created in Reggio Emilia January 7, 1797. That day, representatives from the four cities of Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna and Ferrara met in a Congress proposed by Giuseppe Compagnoni, and they officially adopted the red, white and green Tricolour as the national banner of the Cispadane Republic, the new state created under the protection of the French army.
This historic meeting took place inside the Municipal Palace, in the great room with splendid neoclassical architecture, which was built between 1772 and 1787, following a plan by Lodovico Bolognini, to house the general archives of the Duchy.
Later the great room would be named the Congress Room and then the Tricolour Flag Hall. Now it is the headquarters of the Municipal Board and of the most important civil events of the city.

Tricolour Flag Hall

It is inside the Town Hall Palace and was originally designed by the architect Ludovico Bolognini in 1774 as ducal archive. Here - January 7, 1797 - the representatives of Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna and Ferrara decided the birth of the Cispadana Republic and declared the Tricolor Flag as the flag of the newborn Republic. Originally it had horizontal green, white and red stripes and a quiver with four arrows in the centre.

Tricolour Flag Museum

Near the historic Room, the Tricolour Flag Museum documents with innovative storiographic criteria the historical and political context in which the Italian flag came to be. Along with historic documents, there are also modern audio-visual instruments which make reading the documents easier.
The exhibition on the Risorgimento in Italy has two parallel themes: the history of the national flag, from its origins to the independence and unification of the country, and the history of the political happenings in Reggio Emilia, from the creation of the Reggiana
Republic in 1796 to the documentation of the aid offered by Reggio Emilia’s people in the battle for national liberation.
“Reggio Emilia today is not only the Capital of the Tricolour, but also a vital central part – through conviction and passion – of the effort to reinforce and re-launch the historic heritage of national Unity”. (Giorgio Napolitano – January 7, 2011 – during the 150th celebration of Italy’s Unification).

Tricolour tour

Reggio Emilia is known troughout Italy, and beyond, as the town where the Tricolor flag, the national italian flag, was born. But why Reggio Emilia? What prompted the members of the cities of Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna e Ferrara to meet in Congress in the former ducal archive, then Tricolor Hall?
Let's discover this tour! Step by step you will understand how the political events of Reggio Emilia are deeply linked to the evolution of the monuments and buildings of the historical centre. About 1 hour walking to discover those ideals of freedom and independace that leaded Italy towards its full confirmation as Nation.

Tricolour gadgets

At the Tourist information office you will find many gadgets inspired by the Tricolour flag:

- Tricolour magnets-bottle openers.......................................... 3.00 Euros
- Tricolour magnet..........................................
2.00 Euros
- Skyline magnet..........................................
2.50 Euros
- Skyline mug......................................................................... 5.00 Euros
- Tricolour mug......................................................................... 5.00 Euros
- Tricolour knapsack...................................................................
4.00 Euros
- Small light...................................................................
3.00 Euros
- Pen...................................................................
1.50 Euros                       
- Pencil...................................................................................
2.00 Euros
- Bookmark............................................................................ 
2.00 Euros
- Tricolour little flag...................................................................
1.00 Euros
- Tricolour Flag..........................................................................
5.00 Euros
- "Reggio Emilia" Tricolour flag..................................................
6.00 Euros
- Marked flag..................................................
6.00 Euros