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Ticino canton (Switzerland)

by T.F. Mills

Description of the flag
Symbolism of the flag
History of the flag
Canton coat of arms
Flaggen, Knatterfahnen and livery colours

See also:

Description of the flag

Per fess gules and azure.

Horizontally divided into equal parts red over blue. Like Lucern, but for reasons unknown, Ticino's arms are different from the flag, and the two are often confused. The arms are divided vertically ("per pale gules and azure"). Like several of the flags of cantons created in 1803, Ticino's is heraldically incorrect in that tincture touches tincture (red and blue) without fimbriation.

Symbolism of the flag

The symbolism of the Ticino flag has been lost, but there are numerous theories. The most plausible is that the red and blue were derived from the predominant colours of the arms of the eight districts which came to form Ticino. The flag may also have been inspired by the red and blue of the Cisalpine Republic of 1797. Less plausible theories include red for the the Swiss Confederation and blue for the sky over Italy, thus denoting "Italian Switzerland"; or that Ticino borrowed the colours from the arms of Paris and intended to honour the French Revolution or Napoleon. Least plausible is the idea that red stands for the liberal party and blue the conservatives, but neither party existed at the time the flag was adopted.

History of the flag

The original three Forest Cantons (Waldstaetten) began expanding southwards into Italian state