Italian motorway direction signs use a green background.
Italy distinguishes motorways from other roads through its sign-color system. Green direction signs identify autostrade, the country’s controlled-access motorways, while blue signs generally identify major extra-urban roads and white signs are used for local or urban destinations. Brown is associated with tourist and scenic destinations.
This color coding lets drivers identify the class of route before reading every destination name. Italian motorway signs may also include route shields, exit information, lane arrows, and symbols for services such as fuel, food, or parking.
Color conventions are not universal across Europe. For example, blue is widely used for motorways in several other countries, so travelers should not assume that one country’s motorway color applies everywhere. The Italian system is best understood together with its route classification and the specific sign shapes and symbols shown on the road.