I See Blue Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jodhpur

Built on top of a hill, Mehrangarh is at a height of 125 meters and overlooks the city of Jodhpur. It was built in the mid-15th century when the then king moved his capital from Mandore to Jodhpur.

Jodhpur is located in the Indian state of Rajasthan and is famous for its blue houses which have led to the nickname of the "Blue City". There are various theories behind the blue paint of the houses. One postulates that the blue colour helps to keep mosquitoes away. Another surmises that the blue colour was meant to identify the houses owned by Brahmins, an upper caste, as blue is associated with the Hindu god, Shiva. Yet another claims that the blue colour helps the houses to remain cool in summer, an essential requirement as Jodhpur is located at the edge of the Thar desert.

The other three cities are also found in the state of Rajasthan and have their own nicknames: Jaipur - the Pink City, Jaisalmer - the Golden City, and Udaipur - the Lake City.

Answer: Porto

The second largest city of Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest cities in Europe. In fact, this city is considered to be the origin of the name Portugal for the country. Located on the Atlantic Ocean, its entire historic centre has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The azulejo tiles which are so distinctive of the city's architecture are surprisingly not Portuguese in origin. They were introduced to the city by King Manuel I in the 15th century who brought them from Seville in neighbouring Spain. The word azulejo itself comes from the Arabic language where it means 'polished stone'. The original tiles were plain geometric shapes in neutral colours. It was here in Portugal that they evolved to more intricate designs, often narrating religious stories. The best places to admire these tiles in the city are the Porto cathedral, Sao Bento train station and Igreja do Carmo, a baroque church.

Answer: Istanbul

Istanbul is famous for being one of the only large cities to be spread across two continents - Asia and Europe. With a history dating back centuries, the city has also survived through various name changes from Byzantium to Constantinople to Istanbul.

Located across the square from the equally famous Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque is officially known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Constructed in the early 17th century, it derives its nickname from the beautiful handpainted blue tiles that adorn the interior of the mosque.

Answer: Iran

The Jameh Mosque is located in Isfahan in Iran and is the largest mosque in the country. The mosque has been continually expanded from its initial construction in the 8th century, right up to the 20th century to accommodate increasing number of worshippers, such that it now covers an area of over 20,000 square meters. This UNESCO World Heritage site is renowned for its intricate architecture and detailed tile work. The glazed tile work is believed to have been added during the time of the Safavid dynasty.

Isfahan is a historical city of Iran. It was made the capital during the reign of the Safavid dynasty. The older part of the city comprises the Jameh Mosque and the Naghsh-e Jahan Square, one of the largest squares in the world. Both of these are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Such was Isfahan's stature during the height of its glory that it gave rise to a Persian saying that translates to "Isfahan is half (of) the world".

Answer: Stockholm

Stockholm's metro system, known as the Stockholm Underground, opened in 1950 and consists of a mix of underground and above ground stations. The elaborate artwork seen in over 90 of the 100 stations has led to it being known as the "world's longest art gallery". The artwork is a result of the collective effort of over 150 different artists. The first such designs were done on newly opened stations in 1957. The older, earlier-opened ones were then redecorated with mosaics or statues once the artwork caught on.

The station shown in the picture is T-Centralen, a hub where all the three metro lines meet. It also provides connections to other public modes of transport making it the busiest station in the city. This artwork which consists of blue leaves painted over a white background can be found at the platforms of the Blue Line.

The other three options are Baltic capitals - Tallinn (Estonia), Riga (Latvia), and Vilnius (Lithuania).

Answer: Aegean Sea

The island of Santorini is the remains of a volcanic caldera. It is found in the Aegean Sea and is a popular tourist site. An attempt to view the sun setting behind the caldera sees tourists and photography enthusiasts lining up along the side of the island.

White and blue are the national colours of Greece and also found on the country's flag. That's not the reason behind the colour of these buildings though. The buildings on the island are constructed out of volcanic stone. The white paint helps to keep the structures cool inside during the hot summer months. The blue dye was created through a readily and cheaply available cleaning agent called "loulaki" which when added to water creates the blue tint. The influx of tourists attracted to the beauty of these buildings has meant that these colours are now a staple of the island.

Answer: Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is found in the northern part of Thailand. It was established in the 13th century. Unlike most of the other structures in this quiz, the blue temple was built relatively recently. Construction started in 2005 and the main hall was completed only in 2016. Built over the ruins of an older pagoda, the blue and gold colours were chosen based on tradition. A large white statue of Buddha makes a striking contrast with the deep blue walls of the interior.

The other two notable structures in the city completing the colourful trinity are the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) and the Black House (Ban Daam)

Answer: Bratislava

The church is officially known as the Church of St. Elizabeth and is found in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Built in the early 20th century, it gets its nickname from the blue mosaics and glazed roof. Its interior is also painted in the same shade of blue. Built in the art nouveau style of architecture, the church also has a tower attached to it.

The St. Elizabeth that it is dedicated to and named after was born in Bratislava. She was the Empress of Austria as well as the Queen of Hungary.

Answer: Samarkand

Situated in present-day Uzbekistan, Samarkand was once a thriving and prosperous city. Its location along the all important trade route, the Silk Road, that connected Europe to Asia was a key advantage. This is also reflected in its World Heritage listing where it is captioned the "Crossroads of Cultures".

Shah-i-Zinda is a necropolis consisting of large, elaborate tombs and mausoleums. Beginning with just one tomb, that of Kusam Ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad who is believed to have brought the religion of Islam to this region, the necropolis expanded over many centuries and now hosts over twenty buildings. A number of the mausoleums belong to various members of Timur's family. Timur was a Turko-Mongol conqueror who established the Timurid Empire in Central Asia. The cuspoid niches with their intricate tile work were created during this period. These are distinguishing characteristics of Islamic architecture of this region and also seen in the older mosques like Jemah Mosque of Isfahan.

Answer: Morocco

Founded in the late 15th century as a fortress, Chefchaouen is located in the north-western part of Morocco. Being close to Tangiers makes it a convenient stop for visiting tourists. The blue coloured walls of the city lend it a picturesque look and with the rise of social media sites like Instagram, the city has witnessed a rise in popularity in the last few years.

The reason behind the blue walls is not known for certain. Some claim it helps keep mosquitoes away (a similar reason is given for blue walled houses in distant Jodhpur in India).

Others claim the blue was introduced by Jews escaping persecution by Hitler's Nazi Germany in the 1930s. A more prosaic reason given by some inhabitants is that the town mandated blue houses in the 1970s to attract tourists. If true, this has definitely worked!