Monaco flag patch

Size: 6.5 x 4 cm (2.56 x 1.57 inch)

The flag of Monaco consists of two equal sized horizontal stripes - the top stripe is red and the bottom one is white.

Meaning: Red and white were the heraldic colors of the ruling Grimaldi family. The colors appear as a diamond shaped pattern on the shield of the family's coat of arms.

History: The Monaco flag was adopted on April 4, 1881, making it one of the world's oldest flags. Monaco gained independence from Italy on January 8, 1297, when the territory was acquired by the house of Grimaldi, a family of Italian origin, who established it as a principality. The Principality, with an area of 151 hectares, is the second smallest sovereign state in the world with the smallest being the Vatican.

Interesting Facts: The flag of Monaco is identical to the flag of Indonesia other than its size. The flag of Poland is also similar but with the color scheme reversed. Flags that are designed with a proportion of 4:5 are almost square in shape (source: worldflags101).