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Shaky Italy Trivia Quiz

One of most beautiful places in the world is also one of the most seismically threatened. Let's remember some of the major earthquakes that have ravaged the land in the last century.

A multiple-choice quiz by zordy. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
zordy

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
384,281

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
177

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. December 28, 1908. The most powerful recorded earthquake in Europe stuck and almost completely levelled two southern cities, across the narrow strait that separates Sicily from Calabria. Do you know the names of these cities?
Hint

Messina and Reggio Calabria

Bari and Brindisi

Naples and Salerno

Siracusa and Palermo

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Question 2 of 10

2. January 13, 1915. The town of Avezzano, in the Abruzzi region, was completely destroyed by a shock of 6.7 magnitude, killing 30,000 in the area (96% of the population). In which mountain chain is Avezzano?
Hint

None: it's in the Po Plain

Alps

Apennines

Dinaric Alps

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Question 3 of 10

3. July 23, 1930. A 6.6 earthquake struck the area called Irpinia claiming 1400 lives. Where is Irpinia? (Not very far from Naples)
Hint

Campania

Lombardy

Sicily

Tuscany

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Question 4 of 10

4. January 14 and 15, 1968. A sequence of shocks killed between 230 and 400 people, leaving 100,000 homeless, in the event that is remebered in Italy as the Terremoto (eathquake) del Belice. Where is the valley of Belice?
Hint

Apulia

Veneto

Sicily

Abruzzi

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Question 5 of 10

5. February 6, 1971. The earthquake of Tuscania killed 31, wounded 100 and left 5,000 homeless. Tuscania is a town in Lazio, famous for the archaeological remains of an ancient civilisation. Which?
Hint

Cathaginian

Ligurian

Etruscan

Phoenician

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Question 6 of 10

6. May 6, 1976. A 6.5 magnitude (Mercalli intensity X) quake struck a region in the extreme north of Italy, killing almost 1,000. The event affected also nearby Slovenia. What's the name of this region?
Hint

Valle d'Aosta

Veneto

Piedmont

Friuli

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Question 7 of 10

7. November 23, 1980: Irpinia again. A 6.9 quake left circa 2,500 people dead and 250,000 homeless. The town of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi was almost completely destroyed, but a major city also suffered victims and damages. It is the largest city in the South of Italy.

Answer: (It is the largest city in the South of Italy.)

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Question 8 of 10

8. September 26, 1997. A series of quakes shook Umbria and Marche. Of all dramatic episodes, the one that is still remembered is the collapse of the cupola with frescoes by Cimabue and Giotto in the cathedral of Saint Francis, that killed two friars and two surveying technicians. Where did it happen exactly? (Think St. Francis of...) Hint

Arezzo

Perugia

Assisi

Siena

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Question 9 of 10

9. April 6, 2009. A beautiful city in the heart of Apennines was severely damaged, leaving 309 dead, more than 1,500 injured and ten of thousands homeless. Do you remember the name of this city, main centre of the Abruzzi region? (Hint: the name means "The Eagle")

Hint

L'Aquila

Genoa

Pisa

Perugia

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Question 10 of 10

10. August 24, 2016. Central Italy was badly wounded by the first of a series of earthquakes in a mountainous area extending across Marche, Umbria, Abruzzi and Lazio. The towns of Amatrice and Accumuli were almost completely destroyed, with more than 300 deaths.
Two months later, new quakes struck a nearby area, damaging the beautiful town of Norcia. The local basilica collapsed. Do you know to which saint the basilica was dedicated? He's the patron saint of Europe. Hint

Saint Benedict

Saint Francis

Saint Augustine

Saint Catherine

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Messina and Reggio Calabria

Casualties are estimated at between 75,000 and 200,000 due also to the tsunami that followed the quake. Messina population was halved. Calabria had experienced a deadly quake only three years before, with casualties of up to 2,500.

Answer: Apennines

Avezzano seems to have bad luck: it was repeatedly destroyed during barbaric invasions. The 1915 earthquake killed 10,000 in the town alone: tragically, many young males who survived were killed in WW1. During WW2, 70% of the town was destroyed in 19 Allied bombings and also suffered Nazi violence.

3. July 23, 1930. A 6.6 earthquake struck the area called Irpinia claiming 1400 lives. Where is Irpinia? (Not very far from Naples)

Answer: Campania

Irpinia is a mountainous area of Campania, mainly in the province of Avellino. It's a rural area, and maybe the fact that peasants were in the fields when the quake happened, sleeping outside, saved many lives.

Answer: Sicily

Poor management and bureaucracy caused maybe even more suffering than the earthquake itself. Decades after the disaster, thousands were still living in huts.

The town of Gibellina was rebuilt as an "ideal town" where internationally renowned architects and artists were encouraged to given free rein to extreme creativity. I've visited it, and it's the closest thing to a real life nightmare I can imagine.

Answer: Etruscan

Sadly, as always happens with these destructive events in Italy, the artistic heritage suffered severe damage, and the historic centre of the town was destroyed.

Answer: Friuli

The "Terremoto del Friuli" demonstrates that the seismic area is not limited to the southern and central regions of Italy. This time however the reconstruction was quickly and efficiently managed.

Answer: Naples

In the aftermath of the tragedy, corruption and Mafia infiltration in the business of rebuilding set a new record. Ten years later, the enquiry called "Mani Pulite" ("Clean Hands") stated that a big part of the funds for the reconstruction disappeared; eminent politicians were accused of bribery, some were arrested.
But over the years Naples recovered very well and now visiting the city is a once again a very pleasant experience.

Answer: Assisi

The earthquake swarm continued for more than a year. Eleven people died, the damage to valuable buildings was huge, considering that in the area almost every town and village hosts art treasures, or rather: an area where every town is in itself is a work of art.

Answer: L'Aquila

Also, many surrounding villages were destroyed. Many medieval buildings were damaged. Part of the university dormitory (allegedly "earthquake-proof") collapsed, killing students in their sleep.

10. August 24, 2016. Central Italy was badly wounded by the first of a series of earthquakes in a mountainous area extending across Marche, Umbria, Abruzzi and Lazio. The towns of Amatrice and Accumuli were almost completely destroyed, with more than 300 deaths. Two months later, new quakes struck a nearby area, damaging the beautiful town of Norcia. The local basilica collapsed. Do you know to which saint the basilica was dedicated? He's the patron saint of Europe.

Answer: Saint Benedict

The last quakes claimed no direct casualties, but a huge treasury of history, culture and art was destroyed. This is a loss not only for Italy, but for the whole world, especially for those who love beauty and somehow feel at home here in Italy.

(There are other co-patron saints of Europe, but St. Benedict is widely considered the principal patron).

Source: Author zordy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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