"Second Cities" Around the World Quiz

Answer: Marseille

At the time of the 2010 Census, Paris had a population in excess of 2.2 million whilst Marseille was the only other city to exceed the half million mark. (Lyon, however, has the country's second-largest metropolitan area, after Paris, so I did not include that as an option to avoid confusion.)
The Neo-Byzantine "Notre-Dame de la Garde", completed in 1864, stands on the site of an ancient fort at the highest natural point in Marseille. The French national anthem, "La Marseillaise", although written in Strasbourg, was so named because it was first sung on the streets of Marseille during the French Revolution in May 1792.
Famous people born in Marseilles include the soccer players Eric Cantona and Zinedine Zidane.

Answer: Yokohama

With almost nine million inhabitants (2010 census), Tokyo dwarfs any other Japanese city. Yokohama, though, with 3.7 million was still a fair sized city by any standards. The 2010 Census showed that both Osaka and Nagoya had topped the two million mark, with Sapporo not far short.
Yokohama first surpassed Osaka as Japan's 'second city' in 1980.
Located in the Inner Harbour district, the Yokohama Marine Tower is a 10-sided conical steel-lattice tower. Whether it is the world's tallest lighthouse depends on how you define 'lighthouse'.
The Port of Yokohama officially opened to foreign trade in 1859. The first beer and ice cream made in Japan originated here.

Answer: Hamburg

Berlin was home to around 3.4 million at the time of the 2010 Census, with Hamburg housing roughly half that number. Munich was a further 330,000 behind with Cologne just breaching the million mark. Frankfurt just edged Stuttgart for fifth place.
Officially "The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg" and situated on the river Elbe, this is Europe's second-largest port after Rotterdam. Prior to unification in 1871, Hamburg was a sovereign state. Today it is a city state and one of the sixteen federal states that comprises Germany.
Yes, in case you were wondering, a native of Hamburg is, indeed, a Hamburger.

Answer: Delhi

Mumbai just edged Delhi as the largest city in India (12.4 million to 11 million in 2011), although Delhi had the larger metropolitan area. Bangalore was a fair way behind both in third place with about 8.4 million people.
The Bahá'í House of Worship known as the Lotus Palace because of its flower-like shape has become a major attraction since it opened in 1986.
The region around Delhi has probably seen human habitation for more than 4,000 years and there is evidence of a permanent settlement here since at least the 6th century B.C. The city itself was officially incorporated in 1856. It was announced in 1911 that the capital of British territories in India would be relocated from Calcutta to Delhi and twenty years later the new capital was inaugurated.
A native of Delhi is either a Delhiite, a Delvi or a Delhiwalla.

Answer: Thessalonika

The population of Athens broke the three million mark for the first time at the 2011 Census, more than 25% of the country's people. Greece's 'second city', Thessalonika, weighed in at 790,000 with Patras a distant third with 215,000 residents.
Capital of the region of Macedonia in northern Greece, Thessalonika was once the co-capital (with Constantinople) of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
The original White Tower of Thessalonika was built by the Ottomans to fortify the harbour area and over the years it has been a prison and a scene of mass executions. King George I of Greece was assassinated near the tower in 1913.
A native of the city is a Thessalonian.

Answer: Milan

With a population of just over 2.6 million (2011 Census), Rome was comfortably the largest Italian city. Milan was the only other city to break the million barrier, although Turin and Palermo were not far short. Milan is the capital of Lombardy, the most populous of Italy's twenty regions with more than 15% of the country's population living here. 'Domm de Milan' (Milan Cathedral) is dedicated to St Mary of the Nativity.

Although construction began in 1386, building was only completed in 1965. The streets either radiate out from the Duomo or circle it, demonstrating the cathedral's place as the historic heart of the city.

Answer: Fez

Home to more than 3.3 million (2014 Census), Casablanca was easily Morocco's largest city. Fez (or Fès) was the only other city over the million mark, although neither Tangier nor Marrakech were far short. Nicknamed the "Mecca of the West" and the "Athens of Africa", the city of Fez was founded by the Idrisid dynasty in 789. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, 'Fes el Bali' is the oldest walled part of the city. Within these walls is the University of al-Qarawiyyin which was founded in 859 and is the oldest existing, continually operating and the first degree awarding educational institution in the world.

Answer: Lahore

Pakistan had 14 cities housing more than one million (2014 estimates). With about 12% of the country's population, Karachi was the world's second-largest city, smaller only than China's Shanghai. Lahore would have been the largest city in most countries, with just over ten million, whilst neither Faisalabad (7.4 million) Rawalpindi (5.9m) not Hyderabad (5.6m) could be considered small.
Nicknamed "City of Lively Hearts", Lahore is the capital of the Punjab province. Located in Iqbal Park, the National Tower of Pakistan celebrates the first official call, here in 1940, for a separate homeland for the Muslims living in the South Asia. Construction of the 203-foot high tower was started in 1960 and completed in 1968.
A Lahore native is known as a Lahori.

Answer: Krakow

Warsaw was home to some 1.7 million in 2007. The country's 'second city' was the lovely Krakow, although there was not a significant difference between that city and Lodz (which is why that city was not offered as an option here). The other three alternatives are clearly smaller, with Wroclaw, the largest of them.
One of the oldest cities in the region, Krakow dates back to at least the 7th century, and it was given 'city rights' in 1257. It was the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1569 and then of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1596.
Wawel Castle was built by Casimir III the Great (reigned 1333-70) and enhanced in the 14th century by Jogaila and Jadwiga of Poland, who added the tower called the Hen's Foot and the Danish Tower. Established in 1930, it is now one of the country's most important art museums.

Answer: Gothenburg

Stockholm was home to 1.3 million (2010 Census), and even that relatively small number (compared to some of the cities we've visited on this trip) is almost 15% of the country's entire population. Gothenburg (or Goteborg) is comfortably the country's 'second city', with a population of almost twice that of third-placed Malmo.
Situated by the Kattegat on Sweden's west coast, Gothenburg was founded by royal charter in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus. It is the largest port in any of the Nordic counties. Gothenburg annually hosts the world's largest soccer tournament, the Gothia Cup: the 2011 event attracted 35,200 players, with 1567 coming from 72 countries.
The Älvsborg fortress stands at the mouth of the Gota River. Built on an island in the 17th century, it replaced a 13th century fortress on the mainland.