Flag of San Marino

San Marino

Use	National flag and ensign
Proportion	3:4
Adopted	19th century (standardized on 22 July 2011)
Design	A horizontal bicolour of white and light blue; charged with the national coat of arms in the centre
Use	Civil flag and ensign
Proportion	3:4
Design	Plain white-blue bicolor.

The national flag of San Marino is formed by two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) with a closed crown on top, flanked by an oak and laurel wreath, with a scroll below bearing the word LIBERTAS (Freedom). The two colors of the flag represent peace (white) and liberty (light blue).^[1]

Although the Law on the flag and coat of arms of San Marino from 22 July 2011 refers only to the "official flag" of the republic, a de facto civil flag, which omits the coat of arms, can sometimes be seen flying.^[2] Some official sources of San Marino suggest that the civil flag is actually the bicolor with the coat of arms of the specific city it is used in, instead of the national one.^[3]

The national ensign of San Marino is identical to the state flag.^[4][5]

San Marino's municipalities all have flags that are very similar to San Marino's national flag. These flags all contain a shield-like emblem on the horizontal white and blue bicolor. Closest to the hoist of these flags is the name of the municipality written vertically.^[6]