Lost in San Marino Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fourth

San Marino was established in 301 AD by Marinus, a stonecutter who had fled from Dalmatia (now part of Croatia) to avoid religious persecution. He established a church and community on the site of what became the capital of San Marino. In addition, San Marino can boast the oldest constitution still in effect, dating from 1600.

Answer: A chocolate and wafer cake

The dish translates as 'cake of the three mountains' and is made from layers of wafer, sandwiched with chocolate, hazelnut and coffee creams, and covered with chocolate fondant icing. The bacon and egg flan is better known as Quiche Lorraine and has nothing to do with San Marino, although spaghetti with meatballs might be on the menu.

As for sausages and mashed potato, the vision I had was of the sausages pretending to be mountains in a potato base.

Answer: Blue and White

The coat of arms shows three green mountains, which are the three peaks of Monte Titano where the capital of San Marino, also called San Marino, is situated. The flag field has two equal horizontal bands with the top band of white representing peace and the lower blue band standing for liberty. From 1465 to 1797 the flag had horizontal bands of orange, white and purple with the country's emblem on the middle, white, band. Argentina's flag, by the way, has three horizontal bands of blue, white and blue with the Sun of May on the white band.

Answer: True

Prior to the Euro, San Marino used its own version of the Italian Lira as its currency and was given permission by the Council of the European Union to adopt the Euro. The coins have their own design and are sought after by coin collectors. Although not a member of the EU, San Marino has been a member of the Council of Europe since 1988 and joined the United Nations in 1992.

Answer: Sammarinese

It seems that the name have evolved from San Marinese, but all current sources refer to Sammarinese as being correct. A Samaritan originated from the old city of Samaria, the capital of Israel in the 9th and 8th centuries BC and referred to regularly in the Bible. The other two options are figments of my imagination.

Answer: Giuseppe Garibaldi

In the 1840s Italy consisted of a collection of states, with the northern part of the country under the control of the Austrian Empire. In 1848 a series of revolutions began, with Sicily rebelling against the (French) Bourbon rule. Garibaldi, having fled to South America following a failed uprising in 1834, returned to Italy to join the revolutionary action.

In 1849 Garibaldi briefly took refuge in San Marino before departing for Venice evading the Austrian army en route.

Answer: Gendarmerie

The Gendarmerie was established in 1842 and was originally made up of Italian Carabinieri, although only citizens of San Marino are now allowed to join. Officers are responsible for crime prevention, law and order, public security and the custody of prisoners. The other options are different divisions of law enforcement in Italy.

Answer: False

San Marino has no airports in 2011, only a heliport situated in Borgo Maggiore. The nearest airport is Federico Fellini Airport, near Rimini in Italy, which is only 16km (9.9 miles) from San Marino's capital. The country has no railway system either, as the railway which was opened in 1932, running from San Marino to Rimini, was destroyed in the Second World War and not rebuilt. San Marino has 22km of roads, with the major route being the San Marino Highway. Since San Marino is only 61 square km (24 square miles) in area, and mountainous, there is not much scope for major transport systems.

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

The letter, congratulating Lincoln on his inauguration, was written in 1861, but this would have been too much of a giveaway to put in the question. An article in the New York Times confirms that the offer was acknowledged and accepted in a letter signed by both Lincoln and Seward, his Secretary of State. San Marino was seeking to establish a relationship with the USA, fearing the pressures from the newly formed and united country of Italy. 1861 is taken as being the date from which the USA recognised San Marino as an idependent state, although a consulate was not established there until 1925.

Answer: Captains Regent

San Marino's parliament is known as the Grand and General Council (Consiglio Grande e Generale) and the practice of appointing joint heads of state dates back to 1243. The Council has sixty members, who serve a five year term. The Captains Regent are chosen from opposing parties, to ensure a balance of power, and investiture takes place on 1 April and 1 October each year.