Which Salami? Where Salami? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Genoa

Geona, the capital city of Liguria, is located in Northwest Italy. Some of the city's oldest structures include the medieval city gate Porta Soprana, the ancient lighthouse La Lanterna, the Doge's Palace, San Matteo church, and the cathedral of San Lorenzo. Genoa suffered heavy structural damage during World War II, but restoration projects salvaged many of the city's famed sites. Piazza De Ferrari is the city's main square, and Christopher Columbus is said to have been born in a house near the square.

The Aquarium of Genoa, the largest aquarium in Italy, opened in 1992. Trolleybuses, powered by electrical current, comprise a small part of Genoa's public transit system. Popular in America, Genoa salami is not actually from Genoa. Salame genovese di Sant'Olcese is the true Genoese sausage.

Answer: Siena

Siena holds the Palio horse race twice a year, with the first modern Palio di Siena held in 1656. The race is held in the Piazza del Campo, a shell-shaped public square which is home to the town hall - Palazzo Pubblico, and the Fonte Gaia (Fountain of Joy). Also on the square is the Torre del Mangia, a bell tower erected between 1325 and 1344, which was designed to be of the same height as the Duomo di Siena as a way of showing that the state and church had equal power.

The city is home to several historic churches, including the Basilica of San Francesco, the Siena Cathedral and Santa Maria dei Servi.

The Medicean Fortress (Fortezza Medicea) was built between 1561 and 1563 on the site of the earlier Spanish Citadel. No longer a fort, the structure is home to a wine repository and jazz school.

In 1995 The Historic Centre of Siena was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finocchiona, a salami of Southern Tuscany, is a pork sausage flavored with fennel seeds and aged.

Answer: Naples

Naples' history goes back all the way to the 2nd millennium BC, and the city is a treasure trove of antiquities. The Castel Nuovo was constructed beginning in 1279, the Royal Palace of Naples was built in the early 1600s on the site of an earlier residence, and the Naples Cathedral was completed in the early 1300s.
Beneath the city is the "Campi Flegrei" (fiery fields), a series of caves, catacombs, aqueducts and tunnels. The geothermal zone beneath the city contains a volcanic sandstone called 'tuff' which has been used over the millennia for building material. During World War II, Naples was bombed heavily, and some of the caverns beneath the city were used as air raid shelters.

Cape Posillipo is located on the northern section of the Bay of Naples, and the volcanic island of Nisida can be easily seen from that vantage point. Marcus Iunius Brutus had a villa on Nisida.

In 1995 the Historic Centre of Naples was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Neapolitan Salami is made from pork meat, seasoned, stuffed into a casing and dry cured - or smoke cured - for several months. And, Naples is generally believed to be where pizza originated.

Answer: Catanzaro

Catanzaro is the capital of Calabria. Thanks to its high location over the Ionian Sea, Catanzaro was a popular site throughout history - not only with residents, but also with conquerors. Several groups established their dominance in the area, including the Romans, Greeks, Saracens and Normans. With a history that stretches back to the Iron Age, the city has numerous historical sites, including a Greek necropolis and Norman castle ruins.

The city gets it's nickname from it's location on the narrowest part of the Italian mainland, with the Ionian Sea to the east and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west.

The Porta di Strato and the Porta di S. Agostino are remnants of the city's medieval walls. Matteotti Square is located in the center of the lower town, with the Donizetti Theatre and the Church of Saint Bortolomeo just two of the square's main sites. Renowned for the production of silk, brocades and velvets, Catanzaro is also known for the soft and delicate salami called Soppressata di Calabria.

Answer: Bari

Bari is the capital of Apulia. It is located in Southern Italy, on the Adriatic coast. Barivecchia, or Old Bari, is comprised of a warren of narrow streets and alleys, and includes sights such as the Old Harbor, the Quartiere delle Orecchiette and dozens of historic churches and shrines.

The Basilica of Saint Nicholas houses St. Nicholas' relics, and the Bari Cathedral crypt holds those of Saint Sabinus. The Petruzzelli Theatre is one of Italy's finest opera houses, but the city is also home to the impressive Teatro Margherita and Teatro Piccinni.

The modern Murat City Centre is located to the south of Old Bari, and is one of Italy's largest shopping centers. The Swabian Castle (Castello Normanno-Svevo) was built around 1132, destroyed in 1156 and rebuilt around 1233. Bari is famed for its artisanal orecchiette, the trademark pasta of Puglia. And, the local salami called Zampina is a spicy pork sausage that goes well with fresh mozzarella or apple slices.

Answer: Ancona

Founded around 387 BC by the Greeks, Ancona is a port city in central Italy. The Arch of Trajan, located at the old harbor, was built around 114 and is considered one of the region's most important Roman monuments. The Cathedral of San Ciriaco (Ancona Cathedral) was completed in 1189, but following the natural wearing of centuries, damages in both World Wars, and a 1972 earthquake, the church has undergone several restorations. The Lazzaretto, the Episcopal Palace and the Loggia dei Mercanti are just a few of the many impressive buildings within the city.

An osteria is a small wine and food establishment, which tends to be less expensive than a trattoria. Sangiovese wine is crafted from a red grape popular in central Italy, and ciauscolo is a local dry-cured pork sausage.

Answer: Perugia

Perugia is the capital of Umbira. Perugia's congested maze of cobblestoned streets, one-way avenues and narrow alleys have led the city to ban automobile traffic at certain times and in certain locations. Visitors - and residents - can get around the lower town and city center through the use of escalators and the automated Minimetro trains. The Palazzo dei Priori, the seat of communal government, was built in the early 1300s. Located near the Palazzo dei Priori is the Fontana Maggiore, a medieval fountain built around 1277, and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, whose present building dates back to 1490. Other points of interest include an Etruscan Well, the Marzia Gate and the ruins of a 16th-century fortress which was built over a complex of medieval streets.
Home of the famed chocolate 'Baci' made by the Perugina confectionery company (which was purchased by Nestle in 1988), Perugia has held the EuroChocolate Festival each year in October since the festival's 1993 debut. Capocollo dell'Umbria is a well-known local salume, or cold cut, made from pork. Orvieto wines come from wine-making regions in Umbria and Lazio, with the Orvieto dry white wines being their prominent varieties.

Answer: Bologna

Located in Northern Italy, the city of Bologna has the world's oldest university - the University of Bologna. The university's campus is large, but the majority of the buildings are located in northwest quarter of the old city. And, while the school was founded in 1088, women were not admitted as teachers or students until the 18th century.

True landmarks of the city, the Two Towers - both of which lean - are just two of the twenty or so towers, out of approximately 180, still in existence. The construction of the San Petronio Basilica, the main church of Bologna, began in 1390, but work on the structure went on for centuries. The Palazzo del Podesta was built in 1200, but proved too small for the city's needs, so in 1245 the Palazzo Re Enzo was completed. Panzano Observatory was built in the early 1640s in the nearby village of Panzano. The famed astronomer Giovanni Cassini was based at the observatory from 1648 to 1669, and he was also a professor of astronomy at the University of Bologna.

Mortadella di Bologna, prosciutto and salami are all local specialties, as is Bolognese pasta sauce, tigelle or crescentine, and tortellini. Torta di riso is a quintessential dish of Northern Italy, made with rice, almonds, custard and amaretto.

Answer: Parma

Parma's university was founded in the 1117, and while it has had its ups and downs throughout the centuries, it is a well-respected and highly-ranked institution. Construction of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata, often called simply "Steccata", was begun in 1521, and in 1539 the church was consecrated. Palazzo della Pilotta, built in 1583, now houses a library, art gallery, museum, theater and academy. The Museo Lombardi, the Teatro Regio, the Cittadella and the Baptistery of Parma are just a few of the many historical sites located within the city.

Parma is well-known for gastronomical pleasures, such as Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Prosciutto di Parma, and Salame di Felino - a dry, aged pork sausage of uneven shape.

Answer: Verona

Located in Northern Italy, Verona boasts some excellent remnants of Roman architecture. Located in the Piazza Bra, Verona's largest square, the Verona Arena (which dates back to AD 30) is used in modern times for opera performances, fairs and other events.

The Porta Borsari is a gate in the ancient city walls, and the gate is inscribed with the date of 245 AD. Castelvecchio Bridge was built around 1354-1356, and at the time it was the longest bridge span in the world. The Basilica of San Zeno houses the tomb of St. Zeno (Verona's first bishop) and the tomb of King Pippen of Italy.

The City of Verona itself was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. Sopressa vicentina is an aged pork salami, and tiramisu is believed to have originated in the the Veneto region. And, along with two other of Shakespeare's works, "Romeo and Juliet" was set in Verona.