Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Known as La Rossa ("the red") for the colour of its buildings, and La Dotta ("the scholarly one"), for being the seat of the oldest university in the Western world, this city lies at the southern end of the fertile Po Valley. Thanks to its position, it is one of the most important railway hubs in Italy, and its luscious cuisine has won international renown - so much that its name has been adopted in English-speaking countries to denote a kind of cured meat.
2. Though not as famous as other cities in the same region, this medieval city in central Italy is definitely worth a visit. The intact Renaissance-era walls enclosing its historic centre were turned into a park by one of its former rulers (the sister of a famous French general), and its striking cathedral and Church of San Michele are counted among the undisputed masterpieces of the Romanesque style.
3. Surrounded on three sides by a man-made lake, this northern Italian city was one of the main centres of the Italian Renaissance. Its Ducal Palace contains a much-visited bridal chamber decorated with a superb fresco cycle, quite renowned for its eye-catching ceiling panel. This city is also known as the birthplace of a major Latin poet who wrote about the Trojan war.
4. Situated on one of Italy's major islands, this city was founded by the Greeks almost 3,000 years ago. Imposing ruins, such as the Greek theatre (still used for performances), attest to its glorious past as a powerful city-state. Students all over the world will be familiar with the city's most famous son, renowned for his discoveries in the fields of mathematics and engineering - one of which caused him to run naked out of his bath!
5. Like many other Italian cities and towns, this central Italian city was built on a hill. It offers beautiful medieval monuments such as the Palazzo dei Priori (Town Hall), the Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the Fontana Maggiore. These, though, are not its only attractions, as in October the city hosts a festival called Eurochocolate that is a must for chocoholics everywhere.
6. This beautiful city on the banks of the river Adige has many interesting monuments to offer to the discerning traveller, such as the medieval Castelvecchio with its fortified bridge, the Romanesque church of San Zeno, the Piazza delle Erbe (Market Square) and the Roman Arena. Its most famous sight, however, is a small medieval house that is associated with a legendary star-crossed couple.
7. Close to the Adriatic coast and the mouth of the River Po, Italy's longest river, this city was for a time one of the capitals of the Western Roman Empire. During this period, it was adorned by some of the world's most beautiful mosaics, many of them involving extensive use of gold leaf. Italy's foremost poet is buried there, though he was originally from another world-famous city.
8. Besides its rich cultural and artistic heritage - which includes a superb Romanesque complex of Cathedral and Baptistery - this northern Italian city is considered the food capital of Italy. Many of you will be familiar with two of its signature specialties which are exported (and also imitated) all over the world. One is often grated on pasta, the other is generally eaten with bread or as a pizza topping.
9. Another UNESCO World Heritage site, this southern Italian city can boast of some of the most unique dwellings in Europe - an intricate network of habitations dug into calcareous rock aptly named Sassi ("stones"). This stunning, primitive landscape has often been used as the setting for Italian and international films, such as Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" (2004).
10. This north-eastern city is another of Europe's oldest and most prestigious seats of learning, as its university was founded in the early 13th century. Thousands of pilgrims come every year from all over the world to visit the imposing shrine of one of the Catholic Church's most beloved saints. Lovers of art will find a lot to enjoy in this city - especially Giotto's magnificent fresco cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel.
Source: Author
LadyNym
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
Tizzabelle before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
