Savoy blue
In its own language: blu Savoia
A bright blue between peacock blue and periwinkle, a symbol of Italy since the Middle Ages
Savoy blue is a vivid shade of blue, lighter than peacock blue and close to periwinkle. It has been the colour of Italy’s House of Savoy since the Middle Ages and is now a national symbol, seen on official flags, military sashes, and the shirts of Italian sports teams.
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- Savoy blue is lighter than peacock blue and close to periwinkle.
- It has symbolised the House of Savoy since the Middle Ages.
- The colour is linked to Marian devotion in Christian tradition.
- It appears on Italian sports team shirts and official flags.
- There is no single official shade; it varies by use.
What colour is Savoy blue?
Savoy blue is a strong, saturated blue that sits between peacock blue and periwinkle, and is lighter than peacock blue. It stands out for its brightness and clarity, making it easily visible on flags, uniforms, and sashes. This shade has become closely tied to Italian identity and is widely recognised in Italy’s public life.
Where does Savoy blue come from?
The colour’s roots go back to at least 1366, when Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, chose a blue flag for his crusading fleet. This blue was linked to devotion to the Virgin Mary, a tradition in Christian Europe. Over time, blue became one of the main colours of the House of Savoy, eventually taking precedence and becoming a symbol of the Kingdom of Italy and, later, the Italian Republic.
Where Savoy blue is used
Savoy blue appears on the Presidential Standard of Italy, sashes worn by officers in the Italian Armed Forces, and the insignia of high public offices. It is also the colour of the shirts worn by Italian national sports teams, a tradition that began in 1911. The shade is used for official livery, including aircraft of ITA Airways, and has marked Italian identity in both monarchy and republic.
What Savoy blue means
In Italy, Savoy blue stands for the royal House of Savoy and is a symbol of national unity. Its early use was tied to Marian devotion in Christianity, giving it a sacred aspect. Today, it is a sign of national pride and official status, especially in the context of state ceremonies, military honours, and international sport.
Blue around the world
What the blue family means from country to country.
National sports teams play in blue and are called the Azzurri. Blue was the colour of the House of Savoy, which ruled Italy until 1946, and does not appear on the flag.
Royalty and powerFestival and celebrationPrideSource: National colours of ItalyLapis lazuli has been mined in the mountains of Badakhshan for more than six thousand years. Ground to powder it gave ultramarine, the costliest blue in European painting.
Royalty and powerSacred and holyAweSource: Lapis lazuliThe chadari is a full-length covering for women with a mesh panel over the eyes. In Kabul and the north it is most often a light blue.
Protection and healingSource: BurqaThe blue band of the flag stands for the wish of the Armenian people to live under peaceful skies. The red above it is for the highlands and the struggle to survive.
Politics and protestHopeSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is sky blue, white and sky blue, created by Manuel Belgrano in 1812. National teams are called the Albiceleste, the white and sky blue.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of ArgentinaBoca Juniors play in blue and gold. The club's story is that in 1907 it took the colours of the flag of the next ship into port, which was Swedish.
Festival and celebrationPrideSource: Boca JuniorsShades and relatives of Savoy blue
The exact shade of Savoy blue has changed over time and can differ between sports teams and official uses. There is no single fixed colour code, so the blue seen on shirts or flags may vary from one context to another, but it always remains a bright, clear blue.
Colours that go with Savoy blue
Harmonies are worked out from the value #4B61D1. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Savoy blue
What colour is Savoy blue?
Savoy blue is a vivid, saturated blue that sits between peacock blue and periwinkle, and is lighter than peacock blue.
Where does the name Savoy blue come from?
The name comes from the House of Savoy, the royal dynasty that ruled parts of Italy and made this blue their colour since the Middle Ages.
Why is Savoy blue important in Italy?
It became a national symbol during the Risorgimento and is used in official flags, military sashes, and the shirts of Italian national sports teams.
Is there one official shade of Savoy blue?
No, the exact shade has varied over time and between different uses, but it is always a clear, bright blue.
What is the religious meaning of Savoy blue?
Its early use was connected to devotion to the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition, giving it a sacred significance.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Savoy blue", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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