Are you a lover of all things Italian? Do you dream of strolling through the streets of Rome, sipping espresso at a café in Florence, or enjoying a gondola ride in Venice?
Whether you’re planning your first trip to Italy or you’re a seasoned traveler, this ultimate Italy trivia quiz is the perfect way to test your knowledge of this beautiful country!
From famous landmarks and iconic fashion brands to traditional Italian festivals and cultural traditions, these fun Italy trivia questions and answers cover it all. If you’re having an Italy-themed night with your friends, grab a glass of wine, get that charcuterie plate set up, and get ready to put your Italy knowledge to the test!
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Traveling to Italy soon? Check out the following bestseller guidebooks that will help you with your trip planning!
Italy Trivia Round 1: General Knowledge About Italy
What is the capital of Italy?
Answer: Rome
What is the famous tower in Pisa called?
Answer: The Leaning Tower of Pisa
What cup size, meaning “thirty” in Italian, was introduced by Starbucks in 2011 for 31-ounce cold beverages?
Answer: Trenta.
What is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and a region of Italy?
Answer: Sicily
How do you say “hello” in Italian?
Answer: Ciao
How do you say “thank you” in Italian?
Answer: Grazie
What is the name of the sea that lies to the east of Italy?
Answer: Adriatic Sea
What is the name of the country that lies to the north of Italy?
Answer: Switzerland
What is the name of the country that lies to the northwest of Italy?
Answer: France
How do you say “goodbye” in Italian?
Answer: Arrivederci
How do you say “cheers” in Italian?
Answer: Salute
How do you say “excuse me” in Italian?
Answer: Scusa
The international airport in Venice is named in honor of which locally-born explorer and writer?
Answer: Marco Polo (Venice Marco Polo Airport)
What is the name of the mountain range that runs through Italy?
Answer: The Alps
What is the name of the river that runs through Rome?
Answer: Tiber River
Which US snowboarder was known as “Il Pomodoro Volante” at the 2006 Olympic games in Torino, Italy?
Answer: Shaun White (“Il Pomodoro Volante” means “The Flying Tomato” in reference to his red hair!)
What is the name of the volcano that destroyed the ancient Roman city of Pompeii?
Answer: Mount Vesuvius
What is the name of the Italian cheese that is often grated over pasta dishes? Can you please provide the Italian word(s) for this?
Answer: Parmesan (Parmigiano-Reggiano)
What is the name of the Italian car manufacturer that produces the 500 and the Panda models?
Answer: Fiat
What is the name of the famous Italian wine region that is known for its Chianti and Brunello wines?
Answer: Tuscany
How many letters are in the Italian alphabet?
Answer: 21
Translating to “iron way” in Italian, ____ is a type of mountain climbing that originated in the Italian Alps and involves climbing along a protected route that is equipped with fixed cables and ladders, allowing climbers to traverse steep or rocky terrain that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Answer: Via ferrata
What is the name of the region in Italy that is known for its canals, colorful buildings, and gondolas?
Answer: Veneto
What is the name of the region in Italy that is known for its beautiful coastline, lemon groves, and colorful towns?
Answer: Amalfi Coast
What three-word book sums up the 2010 Julia Roberts film about traveling to Italy, India, and Bali to find oneself?
Answer: Eat Pray Love.
Other than Italy, the 180km (112 miles) Tour du Mont Blanc trek passes through what other two countries?
Answer: France and Switzerland.
What three colors make up the Italian flag?
Answer: Red, white, green.
Italy Trivia Round 2: All About Italian Food
What is the name of the Italian dessert that is made with ladyfingers, coffee, and mascarpone cheese?
Answer: Tiramisu
Which Italian region is famous for its pizza and pasta dishes?
Answer: Naples
What is the name of the popular Italian dish that is made with Arborio rice, broth, and various ingredients such as vegetables, meat, or seafood?
Answer: Risotto
What type of pasta is shaped like little ears?
Answer: Orecchiette
Known for its surprise-themed eggs, what chocolate brand is produced in Italy even though its name means “children” in German?
Answer: Kinder
Which Italian region is famous for its Parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar?
Answer: Emilia-Romagna
What is the name of the Italian dish that is made with spaghetti, garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes?
Answer: Spaghetti aglio e olio
What food ingredients make up an affogato?
Answer: Affogato is an Italian dessert made of ice cream and coffee.
What type of tomato is famous in Italy for its high-quality taste?
Answer: San Marzano tomatoes.
Which Italian city is known for its street food, including arancini (stuffed rice balls) and panelle (chickpea fritters)?
Answer: Palermo
What type of cheese is used in traditional Italian lasagna?
Answer: Ricotta
What type of food is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve in Italy?
Answer: Fish
What type of sauce is traditionally served with spaghetti alla carbonara?
Answer: A sauce made with eggs, cheese, and bacon
Which Italian region is famous for its truffles and porcini mushrooms?
Answer: Piedmont
What is the name of the Italian dish that is made with pasta, clams, garlic, and white wine?
Answer: Linguine alle vongole
What is the difference between ice cream and gelato?
Answer: Ice cream is made with cream, and usually has a fat content of at least 10%. Gelato is made with less cream than ice cream, giving it a lower fat content. Ice cream is churned at a high speed and has a high air content, which gives it a lighter, fluffier texture. Gelato is churned at a slower speed and has less air incorporated, which gives it a denser, more velvety texture.
What type of meat is used in traditional Italian osso buco?
Answer: Veal shanks
Shellfish and tomatoes make cioppino, an Italian-inspired stew. In which US state does it originate?
Answer: California
What food is traditionally eaten in Italy on New Year’s Eve?
Answer: Lentils
What type of cheese is used in traditional Italian caprese salad?
Answer: Fresh mozzarella
Italy Trivia Round 3: Italian Cities
In which city does Romeo and Juliet take place?
Answer: Verona, Italy.
What is the name of the Italian city that is known for being the hub for fashion, design, and art?
Answer: Milan
Which city dominates Italy’s automotive industry?
Answer: Turin.
This city is known for its beautiful lake and surrounding mountains, as well as the Villa Olmo and Funicolare Como-Brunate?. What city is it?
Answer: Como
What is the name of the Italian city that is known for its beautiful churches, including the Basilica di San Marco and the Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore?
Answer: Florence
The Torre Grossa, the Piazza della Cisterna, and the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta can all be found where?
Answer: San Gimignano.
What is the name of the Italian city that is known for its intricate churches, historic center, Mole Antonelliana, and the Palazzo Madama?
Answer: Turin
What is the name of the Italian city that is known for its beautiful beaches, charming old town, the Basilica di San Nicola, the Castello Normanno-Svevo, and the Teatro Petruzzelli?
Answer: Bari
What is the name of the island off the coast of Naples that is known for its colorful houses and lemon groves?
Answer: Capri
Which Italian city is known for being the birthplace of pesto, as well as for its street food, including focaccia and farinata (chickpea flatbread)?
Answer: Genoa
What is the name of the island in the Venetian Lagoon that is known for its glass-making industry?
Answer: Murano
What is the name of the island in the Venetian Lagoon that is best known for its lace-making tradition, which dates back to the 16th century?
Answer: Burano
Which Italian region is famous for its olive oil and limoncello liqueur?
Answer: Campania
Italy Trivia Round 4: Landmarks In Italy
What is the name of the palace in Caserta that is often called the “Versailles of Italy”?
Answer: The Royal Palace of Caserta
In which Italian region would you be able to find the Piazza Maggiore, home to the Basilica di San Petronio, the Palazzo dei Banchi, and the Palazzo del Podestà, as well as Ravenna’s Basilica of San Vitale?
Answer: Emilia Romagna region
What is the name of the ancient Roman arena in Verona that is still used for concerts and operas?
Answer: The Arena di Verona
Where in the world would you find the “Spanish Steps”?
Answer: Rome, Italy
Which museum in Florence houses Michelangelo’s David?
Answer: Accademia Gallery
In which church in Rome could you find its ceiling painted with imagery that depicts scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the famous image of God reaching out to touch Adam’s finger?
Answer: The Sistine Chapel
Which iconic bridge in Florence is lined with jewelry shops and boasts panoramic views of the Arno River?
Answer: Ponte Vecchio
Which university, located in Northern Italy, is the oldest university in the Western world?
Answer: University of Bologna
What is the name of the hill in Rome home to several ancient ruins and monuments?
Answer: The Palatine Hill
What is the name of the amphitheater in Rome that was used for gladiatorial contests and other public spectacles?
Answer: The Colosseum
Although the smallest national park in Italy, ____ is one of the most culturally relevant, featuring five small coastal villages named Corniglia, Manarola, Monterosso al Mare, Riomaggiore, and Vernazza.
Answer: Cinque Terre National Park.
What is the name of the castle in Naples that was built by the Normans and features stunning views of the Bay of Naples?
Answer: The Castel dell’Ovo.
What is the name of the castle in Bologna that was built in the 14th century by the House of Este and served as a defensive fortress during the Middle Ages?
Answer: The Castello Estense.
Which massive church in Venice features stunning Byzantine architecture and beautiful mosaics?
Answer: The Basilica di San Marco.
Every year, the Italian charity Caritas receives over 1 million euros in donations taken from the coins thrown by tourists into what iconic fountain in Italy?
Answer: The Trevi Fountain (in Rome)
Italy Trivia Round 5: Fashion and Culture
What is the name of the famous Italian fashion designer who founded his own fashion house in 1978?
Answer: Gianni Versace
What is the name of the Italian fashion house known for its iconic red-soled shoes?
Answer: Christian Louboutin
What is the name of the Italian fashion brand known for its colorful knitwear, bold patterns, and bohemian-inspired designs, particularly its signature zigzag pattern?
Answer: Missoni
What is the name of the Italian fashion brand known for its sleek and modern designs, particularly in men’s fashion, and its iconic eagle logo?
Answer: Armani
What is the name of the Italian fashion brand known for its bold use of color and its iconic D&G logo?
Answer: Dolce & Gabbana
What is the name of the Italian fashion brand known for its stylish and functional outerwear, particularly its iconic puffer jackets that cost thousands of dollars?
Answer: Moncler
What is the name of the Italian fashion brand known for its luxury watches and jewelry, particularly its iconic Serpenti designs?
Answer: Bulgari
What major Tuscan city is located northwest of Rome on the Arno River and is the birthplace of the Renaissance?
Answer: Florence, Italy.
What is the name of the Italian festival that celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring with colorful parades and flower displays?
Answer: The Carnival of Venice
What is the name of the Italian festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus with elaborate nativity scenes and processions?
Answer: The Feast of the Epiphany (La Befana) in Rome
What is the name of the Italian tradition of making and eating a special bread with candied fruit and nuts during the Christmas season?
Answer: Panettone
During what special time does the Italian tradition of making and wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve for good luck occur?
Answer: La Festa di San Silvestro
What is the name of the Italian festival that celebrates the patron saint of Naples with parades, fireworks, and street food?
Answer: The Feast of Saint Gennaro (San Gennaro) in Naples
What is the name of the Italian festival that celebrates the harvest of truffles with food tastings, cooking demonstrations, and truffle hunts?
Answer: The White Truffle Festival (Fiera del Tartufo Bianco) in Alba
Italy Trivia Round 6: Famous Figures
Who was the iconic Italian artist who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
Answer: Michelangelo
Who was the famous Italian explorer who discovered the New World for Spain?
Answer: Christopher Columbus
What is the name of the Italian composer who wrote “The Four Seasons”?
Answer: Antonio Vivaldi
What was the name of the Italian politician who founded the Fascist Party and became the dictator of Italy in the 1920s?
Answer: Benito Mussolini
According to legend, which Italian scientist discovered the law of gravity by dropping weights off the Leaning Tower of Pisa, showing that gravity causes objects of different masses to fall with the same acceleration?
Answer: Galileo Galilei
Who was the famous Italian artist who painted “The Last Supper”?
Answer: Leonardo da Vinci
Who was the famous Italian poet who wrote “The Divine Comedy”, a poem that depicts a journey through the afterlife, with the protagonist Dante being guided through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven?
Answer: Dante Alighieri
In 1503, what iconic painting did Leonardo Di Vinci create?
Answer: The Mona Lisa
This Italian philosopher, writer, and politician during the Renaissance period is best known for his political treatise, “The Prince,” which is considered one of the most influential works on political theory in Western literature. Who is he?
Answer: Niccolò Machiavelli. In “The Prince,” Machiavelli outlines his ideas on how a ruler can gain and maintain power, even if it means using ruthless and amoral tactics. The term “Machiavellian” has since come to be associated with the use of deceit and manipulation for political gain.
This Italian painter of the Early Renaissance period is known for his beautiful and intricate paintings that often featured religious and mythological themes. Some of his most famous works include “The Birth of Venus,” “Primavera,” and “The Adoration of the Magi”. Who is he?
Answer: Sandro Botticelli
Who was the Italian composer who wrote the opera “The Barber of Seville”?
Answer: Gioachino Rossini
Who was the famous Italian composer who wrote the opera “Rigoletto”?
Answer: Giuseppe Verdi
Which famous explorer was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451?
Answer: Christopher Columbus
In Roman Mythology, what are the names of the twin brothers who discovered the city of Rome?
Answer: Romulus and Remus
And that concludes our Italy trivia quiz! So…how many did you get right? Also, let us know in the comments if you want more geography quizzes like this!
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