The left side of the emblem is pretty straightforward. The red cross on white background is the symbol of the City of Milan, and dates back to the Crusades, when Milanese soldiers wore white tunics under their armor and carried red crosses. The right side, which is part of the coat of arms of the ruling Visconti and Sforza families is a bit trickier. Some say it represents a mythical serpent that lived in a local lake and ate humans. Others say it is a snake eating a child. Officially, Alfa Romeo says it is a symbol of rebirth, a snake giving "oral birth" to a child, just as a snake sheds its old skin for a new one. Hmmm... anyway, it makes for interesting speculation. As the logo became more stylized over the years, three elements were dropped.... the laurel wreath (which signified racing victories), the knots (which were symbols of the Savoy region before unification), and the city name of Milano (when factories were opened in Southern Italy).
We've had visual evidence of all of this during our stay here in Milan. Our hotel is located adjacent to the beautiful upscale shopping/dining complex called Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II, which opened in 1877. The marble floor in the Galleria contains the symbol of the city of Milan.
A couple of days ago we visited the amazing Sforza Castle, just a ten minute walk from the hotel. The snake/serpent emblem can be seen on several areas of the castle.
Who knew there could be so much history, mystery, and intrigue in a car logo?
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