What Does the Alfa Romeo Badge Mean?

The Alfa Romeo brand has a long legacy in the automotive industry which dates all the way back to 1910! During centuries of auto production, the signature Alfa Romeo logo has become a symbol of excellence and innovation — but, just what does the Alfa Romeo badge mean? The Alfa Romeo symbol has roots that date way back to medieval Italy, and it’s attention-grabbing snake design has been turning heads around Southlake and Keller ever since. Want to dive deeper into the symbolism and history of the Alfa Romeo logo? Momentum Alfa Romeo is here to guide you through the brand’s timeline.

Alfa Romeo Symbol Meaning

Since its origins in 1910, the Alfa Romeo logo has remained a split design with two halves. Each half represents a traditional symbol of Milan: the cross of the municipality on the left, and the Visconti serpent on the right. And while the Visconti serpent was chosen to represent the Visconti family, much of the Alfa Romeo logo is still shrouded in secrecy. Here are a few of the most popular theories about the Alfa Romeo symbols:

• The Cross — Commonly known as the Cross of St Ambrose or St. George’s Cross, this cross is historically associated with medieval Milanese soldiers during the Crusades.
• The Serpent — The snake-eating-man symbol is known as the Biscione, associated with the Visconti family of 11th century Milan. The serpent wears a crown to commemorate the Visconti dukedom of the 15th century.
• The Man — The victim of the serpent is likely a Saracen or Moor, a reference to the Christian Crusades.
• The Knots — While they were eventually removed from the Alfa Romeo symbol, the original Alfa Romeo logo featured two decorative Savoy knots dividing “Alfa” and “Romeo” on the logo’s border.
• The Crown — The laurel crown appeared in 1925 when the Alfa Romeo P2 won the inaugural Automobile World Championship, but it was removed in 1982. 

History of the Alfa Romeo Logo

When the brand started, Alfa Romeo was just “A.L.F.A.” or Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili. Because of the strong connection to the city of Milan, the crest was packed with symbols to pay homage to the brand’s roots. In 1915, Nicola Romeo took the helm and A.F.L.A. became “Alfa Romeo.” This change was seen in the logo as of 1920, now reading “Alfa Romeo Milano.”

Over the years, there have been subtle changes in the typeface and design. However, the core design has remained remarkably similar over decades of changes. To this day, the Alfa Romeo logo still showcases its Italian heritage on popular models like the Giulia and Stelvio.

Explore the Alfa Romeo Lineup at Momentum Alfa Romeo

Now you know what does the Alfa Romeo badge mean, so why not see it in person at Momentum Alfa Romeo? Contact us with any questions at Momentum Alfa Romeo or visit our showroom to get behind the wheel of a brand new model. You’ll find our dealership in Hurst, just a short drive from Dallas, so stop by today.