A Rainbow Tour of Europe Trivia Quiz

Answer: St Basil's Cathedral

First instincts to the contrary, the name Red Square came from a Russian word that could mean either beautiful or red. The word originally described St Basil's Cathedral, and was eventually borrowed for the name of the square. The Red Square has changed dramatically over the centuries.

Modern sights around the square include the Kremlin, Lenin's Tomb, Kazan Cathedral, and the GUM department store.

Answer: France

Romans founded Orange in 35 BCE. It is situated in modern-day southern France, not far from Avignon. Orange became a principality of the Holy Roman Empire in 1163 by decree of Frederick I and remained such until 1713, when the region was ceded to France.

Orange lends its name to the Dutch House of Orange, established by William I of Orange. William started the eighty-year Dutch revolution against Spain that resulted in the recognized independence of the Netherlands in 1648. William was born in modern-day Germany; he inherited the title Prince of Orange from a deceased cousin when he was eleven years old.

Answer: cove beach

Yellowcraig is a cove beach located on the eastern shores of Scotland. In addition to the cove, the park includes a caravan club site, nature trail, woodlands, grasslands, and rock pools. The island of Fidra is within view of the shore, and is reputed to be the inspiration behind Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "Treasure Island". Yellowcraig is just north of Dirleton Castle, which according to VisitScotland, has the world's longest herbaceous flower bed.

Answer: Denmark

Greenland is said to have been named by Erik the Red, who was exiled there and hoped that its name would encourage others to settle there. Greenland was settled thousands of years ago by Paleo-Eskimos and later the Norse, though those settlements eventually failed. It came under Portuguese influence during the early 16th century, but was claimed by Denmark-Norway in the 18th century. Following the dissolution of Denmark-Norway, Greenland fell under Danish control in 1814.

The United States attempted to buy Greenland from Denmark in 1946, but Denmark did not agree to the deal. Greenland went from a colony to an autonomous country in 1953, and has steadily gained more autonomy in its affairs since then.

Answer: Sea of Marmara

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of several mosques around the world called a Blue Mosque, all of which are so-nicknamed for their blue attributes. This particular mosque is located on the very edge of Europe, in the European part of Istanbul. It is very close to the the better-known Hagia Sophia as well as the Sea of Marmara. Unsurprisingly, the Blue Mosque was constructed during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I, and completed in 1616.

Pope Benedict XVI visited Istanbul's Blue Mosque in 2006, becoming the second pope to ever undertake such a visit (the first was John Paul II, in 2001). He silently meditated in the mosque for two minutes.

Answer: shivered slate

There are a handful of so-called Purple Mountains around the world, but the Purple Mountain in County Kerry, Ireland is actually purple! Purple Mountain stands at a height of 832 m (2,730 ft) and has three main peaks. According to Samuel Lewis, the shivered slate on the mountain is what gives Purple Mountain its beautiful coloring. Nearby landmarks include the Killarney National Park, Lakes of Killarney, and River Laune.

Answer: Germany

The Black Forest is an approximately rectangular region in southwestern Germany, close to the Rhine Valley. The region is mountainous and home to many spruce, pine, and fir trees. The natural beauty of the Black Forest makes it a popular tourist region.

Black Forest is home to many decadent foods, the most famous of which are Black Forest cake and Black Forest ham (which has protected designation status in the European Union). Wood carving is another popular industry of the region, the most famous products of which are intricate cuckoo clocks.

Answer: France

The White Cliffs of Dover are the closest part of England to the European mainland, and are visible in France, across from the Strait of Dover. Though they contain streaks of several minerals, the cliffs are primarily composed of chalk, which is what gives them their white color.

The chalk was formed from microscopic coccolithophores during the Cretaceous period. The White Cliffs create a striking image, and have inspired poems and a movie bearing their name.

Answer: St Petersburg

The accurately named Amber Room was a shimmering room of amber and gold leaf constructed in the Catherine Palace of St Petersburg during the early 18th century. The intricate panels that comprised the room required nearly 6,000 kg (13,000 lbs) of amber to complete. Sadly, this marvel of engineering was dismantled by the Nazis during World War II; only a few small pieces of it were ever rediscovered.

Though the original room was never recovered, a new Amber Room was recreated in its place. Backed financially by Germany, the reconstructed Amber Room was completed in 2003, and dedicated by Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg.

Answer: Eva Peron

Eva Peron (1919-1952) was the wife of Argentine president Juan Peron, and first lady of Argentina from 1946 to 1952. Shortly after becoming first lady, she embarked on her well-known Rainbow Tour, visiting many countries and world leaders in Europe. The tour was essentially a diplomatic mission to build good will for Argentina following the Infamous Decade and the Revolution of 1943 that ushered in Juan Peron's presidency. The results of the tour were mixed, ranging from a warm reception in Spain to tomato throwing in Switzerland.

Eva Peron died of cancer in 1952; she was very popular and her death resulted in much mourning. Her life, including the Rainbow Tour, formed the inspiration behind the musical "Evita".