Special Sub-Topic: Regions of Italy Click Here To Play: Regions of Italy

Which region forms the boot heel of Italy?

Apulia. Puglia, or Apulia is Italy's southeastern-most region. It is about 19.357 km. squared, and it's main city is Bari. It borders the Adriatic and Ionian seas.

Sicily is home to what famous, still-active volcano?

Mt. Etna. Etna is Italy's most active volcano. Fiuggi is really a town south of Rome known for their spas, and Montefeltro is a hill town a few hours from Tuscany.

This island region is known for the breathtakingly beautiful Emerald Coast.

Sardinia. The Emerald Coast of Sardinia is arguably one of the most pretty places in Italy. It is known for beautiful beaches, pristine waters, and wind-shaped sandstone formations. These sandstones are unique because they look like animals such as elephants, hippos, rhinos, and water buffalo.

It is in this region that the great river Tiber begins.

Umbria. Besides the Tiber River, Umbria is also home to many medieval castles and monasteries. The Tiber actually begins on the slopes of Monte Fumaiolo and gaining breadth as it goes southward towards Rome. Umbria is east of Tuscany, north of Rome, and west of the Marches.

Which region, formally two separate papal states but unified in 1859, is the accordion and Parmesan cheese home to?

Emilia-Romagna. Emilia Romagna is a summertime haven for northern Europeans, especially Germans. It is known for its beautiful countryside, and in Rimini, the numerous dance clubs and night life. The accordion was created in Modena and Parma is famous for Parmesan cheese.

This region is home to pizza spaghetti and mozzarella di bufala, as well as the Amalfi coast and the ancient city of Pompeii.

Campania. This dream location in Italy is also home to the city of Naples and the beautiful Isle of Capri. In the 20th century it was considered somewhat dangerous because of questionable neighborhoods, but it is now a popular tourist spot again.

This region was ruled by the Austrian Hapsburgs in the 1900's, except for Friuli which was liberated in 1866. Venezia-Giulia returned to Italy in 1918, then was conquered in 1945. After the second World War, only Trieste maintained Italian rule, with one period of formal independence.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is not a usual tourist site, but it has wonderful sandy beaches and bustling seaports. After World War One a good portion of this region was given to Yugoslavia for their valiant fight against the Nazis in World War Two. Friuli-Venezia Giulia still bears signs of their Austrian and Slavic influence in their lifestyle and culture.

This region in question plays home to a number of monasteries, mainly Grottaferrata, Frascati, Montecompatri, Nemi, Lanuvio, Albano, and Castel Gandolfo.

Lazio. Grottaferrata was built by Saint Nilus and Saint Bartholomew the Younger in 1004, and is Italy's center of Byzantine culture. These monasteries are all just a 25 minute drive southeast from Rome, and have long attracted many tourists.

In this region, tourists get to travel in an underground cave, tracking a subterranean river.

Abruzzo. Near Stiffe, tourists get to travel for one-third of a mile, following a river. The caves are also home to unusual rock formations, huge stalagmites and stalactites, and beautiful waterfalls.

This region, a food-lover's paradise, has stunning scenery and world-class vineyards, and borders France and Switzerland.

Piedmont. This region is also notably famous for the Savoys, who ruled Italy from the Unification in 1861 until their abdication in 1946. Among its renowned foods, they have truffles, wine, fresh meats, and delicious cheeses. I hoped you enjoyed taking my quiz, or at least learning more about the culture of Italia. Ciao!