Flags of Southern Europe
Recognise the 13 national flags of Southern Europe by their colours and design, one family of flags at a time.
13 cards · Geography
Each Zap teaches up to 5 new cards, so you learn the deck a few at a time.
Checked by the Brain Zap team · reviewed 23 Oct 2026
Sources: Gallery of sovereign state flags (Wikipedia), flag-icons by Lipis, MIT licence (the pictures)
Preview
Red, wide yellow and red bands, with a coat of arms
Show answerHide answer: Red, wide yellow and red bands, with a coat of arms
Spain
Learn more: Red and gold come from the old kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. The two pillars stand for the Strait of Gibraltar.
Green and red, with a coat of arms on the dividing line
Show answerHide answer: Green and red, with a coat of arms on the dividing line
Portugal
Learn more: Adopted in 1911 after the monarchy fell. The armillary sphere recalls the Age of Discovery.
Green, white and red vertical bands
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Italy
Learn more: First adopted in 1797 by a republic set up in the north under Napoleon.
White and red halves, with a cross in the corner
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Malta
Learn more: The George Cross in the corner was awarded by King George VI in 1942 for courage under siege.
Blue and white stripes, white cross in the corner
Show answerHide answer: Blue and white stripes, white cross in the corner
Greece
Learn more: Its nine stripes are said to match the nine syllables of the motto 'Freedom or Death'.
About this topic
This chapter of Flags of the World covers the national flags of Southern Europe. Each card shows a flag and asks which country flies it, with a hint and a short story of where its colours and shapes come from.
Southern Europe mixes old kingdoms and young republics. Many of its flags carry a coat of arms, an eagle or a cross, and the Balkan flags tell the story of the countries that left Yugoslavia.
Learn the family first, then the one detail that sets each flag apart: the order of the colours, a shade of blue, a cross, a star or an emblem. Once you know most of this chapter's flags, the next chapter of the Book starts arriving in your Daily Zap.
All 13 cards
Red, wide yellow and red bands, with a coat of arms
Spain
Learn more: Red and gold come from the old kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. The two pillars stand for the Strait of Gibraltar.
Green and red, with a coat of arms on the dividing line
Portugal
Learn more: Adopted in 1911 after the monarchy fell. The armillary sphere recalls the Age of Discovery.
Green, white and red vertical bands
Italy
Learn more: First adopted in 1797 by a republic set up in the north under Napoleon.
White and red halves, with a cross in the corner
Malta
Learn more: The George Cross in the corner was awarded by King George VI in 1942 for courage under siege.
Blue and white stripes, white cross in the corner
Greece
Learn more: Its nine stripes are said to match the nine syllables of the motto 'Freedom or Death'.
White over light blue, with a coat of arms
San Marino
Learn more: One of the world's oldest republics. The three towers on its arms stand on Mount Titano.
Yellow and white halves, with crossed keys and a crown
Vatican City
Learn more: The keys of Saint Peter, gold and silver, sit under the papal tiara. One of only two square national flags.
Black two-headed eagle on red
Albania
Learn more: The eagle recalls Skanderbeg, the 15th-century hero who fought the Ottomans. Locals call the country Shqipëria.
Yellow sun with eight rays on red
North Macedonia
Learn more: Adopted in 1995 after a dispute with Greece over its first flag, which showed the Vergina Sun.
Red with a gold border and a gold eagle
Montenegro
Learn more: Adopted in 2004, two years before independence. The gold two-headed eagle comes from its old royal house.
Red, white and blue bands, with a checkerboard shield
Croatia
Learn more: The red and white checkerboard, the šahovnica, has been its symbol for centuries. Current flag since 1990.
White, blue and red bands, with a mountain shield
Slovenia
Learn more: The shield shows Triglav, its highest mountain, under three gold stars. Adopted in 1991.
Yellow triangle and white stars on blue
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Learn more: Chosen in 1998. The triangle echoes the country's shape; the stars and blue recall Europe.
Image credits
- Red, wide yellow and red bands, with a coat of arms: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, wide yellow and red bands, with a coat of arms
- Green and red, with a coat of arms on the dividing line: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Green and red, with a coat of arms on the dividing line
- Green, white and red vertical bands: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Green, white and red vertical bands
- White and red halves, with a cross in the corner: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White and red halves, with a cross in the corner
- Blue and white stripes, white cross in the corner: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Blue and white stripes, white cross in the corner
- White over light blue, with a coat of arms: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White over light blue, with a coat of arms
- Yellow and white halves, with crossed keys and a crown: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow and white halves, with crossed keys and a crown
- Black two-headed eagle on red: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Black two-headed eagle on red
- Yellow sun with eight rays on red: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow sun with eight rays on red
- Red with a gold border and a gold eagle: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red with a gold border and a gold eagle
- Red, white and blue bands, with a checkerboard shield: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Red, white and blue bands, with a checkerboard shield
- White, blue and red bands, with a mountain shield: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: White, blue and red bands, with a mountain shield
- Yellow triangle and white stars on blue: flag-icons by Lipis, MIT, MIT Source: Yellow triangle and white stars on blue
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