Viva la Dolce Vita! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fashion

Italy is one of the leading countries in fashion design. Names such as Gucci, Fendi, Armani, Versace and many others grace high-end shopping streets and malls all over the world. Together with Paris, London and New York, Milan (the second-largest Italian city, and the country's main business hub) is one of the capitals of international high fashion. Milan Fashion Week is one of the "Big Four" trade shows of its kind: held twice a year (in February/March and September/October), it attracts all kinds of celebrities. Rome and Florence also enjoy a worldwide reputation for luxury fashion and design.

Answer: Carnival

Carnival is celebrated in the weeks before the beginning of Lent, typically in February or early March. Though some of the most famous Carnivals occur outside Italy, many Italian cities and towns celebrate the Carnival season in style, with parades of allegorical floats (such as the Carnevale di Viareggio, on the Tuscan coast), or donning masks and elaborate costumes (as in the famed Carnevale di Venezia, which originated in the 13th century). During the whole Carnival season, children wear costumes and toss confetti and streamers when walking around the streets, and costume parties are organized.

As in other countries, various kinds of fritters are enjoyed by Italians of all ages during Carnival.

Answer: Opera

Italians love music in all its forms, and have contributed to its development in many ways. It is not a coincidence that a lot of the terminology used to this day when talking about music comes from Italian! Opera, however, is the musical form that is most commonly associated with Italy, where it started at the end of the 16th century, soon spreading throughout Europe. Though Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini are by far the most famous Italian opera composers, there are many others, whose work is well known to aficionados of the genre. Milan's 18th-century Teatro alla Scala is Italy's foremost opera house, and one of the most important in the world.

Answer: Roman Catholicism

The Catholic Church has been present on the Italian territory for centuries, Though the Vatican has been an independent state for almost 100 years, it is a presence that is difficult to ignore. The influence of Roman Catholicism on Italian culture - from literature and the arts to politics and everyday life - cannot be overstated.

The overarching influence of the Catholic Church on Italian society requires a delicate balancing act on the part of politicians and lawmakers, often resulting in lengthy struggles in order to pass reforms opposed by the Church. Compared to other Europeans, Italians attend church services relatively often; local parish churches provide a point of aggregation for people of all ages, and most of life's important events (such as weddings and funerals) tend to be celebrated in church.

Answer: Espresso coffee

Though nowadays espresso can be found almost everywhere, it is hardly ever comparable to what you would get in any Italian bar. So concentrated that it barely fills the bottom of a tiny coffee cup, espresso is much easier on your digestive system than drip coffee, and much more effective at dispelling lingering sleepiness or the after-effects of a heavy meal. Espresso is brewed by pressurization, which results in a dense, concentrated brew with a creamy foam on top.

The first steam-driven coffee maker was invented by Angelo Moriondo in 1884, and later developed into the modern espresso coffee machine that can be seen in Italian bars and restaurants.

Answer: Tower of Pisa

One of the world's most readily recognizable buildings, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile (free-standing bell-tower) of the city's Romanesque cathedral. It was begun in 1173, and completed in 1372. Its tilt began during construction, as the foundation had been built on ground too soft to support the weight of the imposing building.

In the decades that followed, the Tower's tilt increased, until it was stabilized in recent years. The striking, white marble structure, which houses seven bells, is part of the complex known as Campo dei Miracoli, which includes the Cathedral, the Baptistry and the Camposanto (cemetery).

As one of the symbols of Italian culture, the Tower's distinctive silhouette can be often found decorating pizza boxes, at least in the US.

Answer: Football (soccer)

It has been said that football is a religion in Italy, and this would not be far from the truth. Football is more than just a sport - it is something that can bring people together in celebration, or cause sharp divisions. Though, unfortunately, there have been a number of violent incidents associated with football matches, for the majority of the Italian population football is a healthy passion that can be indulged for most of the year. Up to 2016, the Italian national team (the "Azzurri", i.e. the Blues) has won four FIFA World Cups, most recently in 2006.

Italian clubs have often distinguished themselves in international competitions such as the Champions' League. When important international matches are on, Italian city streets look almost deserted, and impromptu watching sessions are occasionally organized in offices and other places of work.

Answer: La bella figura

"Fare una bella figura" (making a good impression) is of paramount importance to any Italian worth his or her salt. Though it might be a difficult concept to grasp for outsiders, it is a philosophy that is ingrained in the psychology of most Italians, and goes beyond mere appearance.

It is reflected in every aspect of everyday life, from clothes (of course!), table settings and shops' window dressing to good manners in interacting with others. Italian journalist and essayist Beppe Severgnini (who occasionally writes for The New York Times), in 2007 published a book by the title of "La Bella Figura: A Field Guide to the Italian Mind".

Answer: Vespa scooter

Vespa (Italian for "wasp") was first manufactured by Piaggio in 1946 as a single model motor scooter with a distinctive shape (resembling the eponymous insect, at least according to its creator, Enrico Piaggio) that has been much imitated. In the aftermath of WWII, it provided an effective and affordable means of transportation for the masses. By 1950, Vespa had become a success story in Italy, but the best was yet to come.

The famous scene in the 1953 movie "Roman Holiday", in which Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck ride a Vespa through the streets of Rome, gave the scooter international cult status. Over the years, Vespa has evolved into a full line of scooters that are sold all over the world.

Answer: Pasta

Although there is much more to Italian cuisine than pasta, this quintessential comfort food is identified with Italy - I am sure you will all be familiar with definitions such as "spaghetti western"! While some still hold that pasta came to Italy from the Far East by way of Marco Polo, the famed 13th-century Venetian traveller, foods with very similar characteristics to modern-day pasta have existed in Italy and in the whole of the Mediterranean region for almost 3,000 years. Pasta is a very versatile ingredient, and is produced in a huge variety of shapes with very creative names.