Book Description
Ultimate Italian Trivia offers over 1,600 amazing trivia that are sure to entertain and educate. This extravaganza of curiosities on all things Italian is truly a delightful discovery. Ultimate Italian Trivia will prove fascinating for those of Italian heritage and a lively feast for trivia buffs of all backgrounds!
Ultimate Italian Trivia delivers an extraordinary and detailed overview of Italy and Italian heritage using a trivia format. With each trivia and each turn of the page, you will take a guided tour and travel Italy. Ultimate Italian Trivia is a great way to learn Italian history and heritage the easy way. A true Italian made simple approach.
► Trivia on Italian food, cuisine, and cooking (wine, espresso, pasta, recipes, and more)
► Trivia on Italian destinations and geography (Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Naples, Sicily, Tuscany, and more)
► Trivia on the Italian language (speaking, phrases, common words, literature, and more)
► Trivia on the Holy Catholic Church (Vatican, popes, early Christianity, and more)
► Trivia on Italian music, art, and architecture (opera, Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, and more)
► Trivia on Italian holidays, traditions, and people (Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Mussolini, Julius Caesar, and more)
► Trivia on Italian time periods (Etruscans, Romans, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reunification, and more)
► Much more!
Ultimate Italian Trivia was written in partnership with
www.ItalianTrivia.com and financially sponsorship by the National Italian American Foundation. The foreword was graciously written by Frank D. Stella, Chairman Emeritus of the National Italian American Foundation.
Bonus sections include:
► Profiles of each region of Italy
► Italian National Anthem
► "Top 10 of Italy" lists
► Complete timeline of Italian history
► Key dates in the history of Italy
► Map of Italy with "name the region" trivia
Full of Fun and Fascinating Trivia on All Things Italian...Capisci!!!
About the Author: Scott Paul Frush
Scott Paul Frush is president and founder of the Frush Financial Group (
www.Frush.com), a Michigan-based provider of wealth management solutions to individuals and families, and an asset allocation consultant to institutions and businesses.
In addition to
Ultimate Italian Trivia, his other work includes
Understanding Asset Allocation (McGraw-Hill, 2006),
Understanding Hedge Funds (McGraw-Hill, 2006),
Optimal Investing (Marshall Rand Publishing, 2004), and
Hedge Funds Demystified (McGraw-Hill, 2007)
Scott holds an MBA in finance from the University of Notre Dame, a BBA in finance from Eastern Michigan University, the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER PRACTIONER. He has been quoted in several newspapers, magazines and web sites across the country.
Select Trivia from Ultimate Italian Trivia:
Q: Born in Cremona in 1644, I am known by some as the greatest violin maker of all time with the most cherished violin label in the world. The Latin version of my name is inscribed on each instrument I produced. Who am I?
A: Antonio Stradivari (1644 - 1737)
Q: Which two great leaders of the American Revolution were fluent in the Italian language?
A: Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin
Q: Born Angelo Siciliano in Calabria, this Italian American bodybuilder immigrated with his family to America in 1904. He created the bodybuilding technique called isometrics and was referred to as the "World's Most Perfectly Developed Man". Name him.
A: Charles Atlas (1892-1972)
Q: During World War II, Rosie Bonavita was an icon of sorts and a symbol of American women who worked in the factories while men were away in the armed forces. By which other name was she known?
A: "Rosie the Riveter"
Q: What is the name of the fresco, painted by an Italian American, on the capitol dome?
A: Apotheosis of Washington
Q: Italian immigrant Ettore Boiardi established this company that rose to become the largest supplier of rations to the United States and Allied armed forces during World War II. Today, this company specializes in ready-to-eat spaghetti dinners, pasta and pizza. Name this company.
A: Chef Boyardee
Q: Where was the famous film director Francis Ford Coppola born in America?
A: Detroit, Michigan
Q: This street is the heart of New York City's Little Italy due to its proximity to the dock where Italian immigrants were ferried from Ellis Island. Name this street.
A: Mulberry Street
Q: Eddie Arcano competed in over 24,000 events, winning nearly 25% of those events and earning over $30 million in the process. Name this sport. (a) golf (b) grand prix racing (c) horse racing
A: (c) horse racing
Q: Which U.S. state became the first state to observe Columbus Day in 1905?
A: Colorado
Q: What was the original name for the Radio Corporation of America, or RCA? (Hint: inventor of the radio)
A: Marconi Wireless Company of America
Q: Which 19th century American president was awarded an honorary citizenship from the Republic of San Marino?
A: Abraham Lincoln
Q: Which boxer was called "The Rock" and the "Brockton Blockbuster"?
A: Rocky Marciano
Q: Which infamous outlaw of the 19th century was captured by Italian American Angelo Siringo?
A: Billy the Kid
Q: Which state has the highest number of Italian American residents in the U.S.?
A: New York
Q: Which celebration in the United States resembles Carnevale?
A: Mardi Gras
Q" Which city in upstate New York is named after a city in Sicily that was founded by the ancient Greeks?
A: Syracuse
Q: Where does Italian rank in the "top ten largest ethnic groups" in the United States?
A: Fifth, behind German, Irish, English and African
Q: Italian scientist and immigrant, Enrico Fermi, was a member of an American team that developed the atomic bomb. What was the name of their secret project?
A: "Project Manhattan"
Q: Which Italian American actor hit the big-time as Vinnie Barbarino in the television show Welcome Back Kotter and starred as the leading male characters in the movies Saturday Night Fever and the original Grease?
A: John Travolta
Q: Bruno Sammartino, an immigrant to the U.S. from Italy after World War II, suffered from malnutrition when he arrived in America. Soon thereafter, he became a professional in this sport and rose to world champion for twelve straight years. Name this sport. (a) wrestling (b) boxing (c) bocce
A: (a) wrestling
Q: In New York City you can find a statue of a famous Italian leader in Washington Square. The statue was erected to celebrate the contributions that Italians made during the American Civil War. Name the Italian who is immortalized by the statue.
A: Giuseppe Garibaldi
Q: Which Italian American was elected chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange in 1985, but forced out in the mid-2000s? Richard Grasso, born in Queens
What is the origin of the derogatory term "Wop"?
A: "Without Official Papers". Many Italians entering the U.S. arrived this way.
Q: Sylvester Stallone wrote the Rocky screenplay and insisted that he act in the leading role. What was the nickname for his character in the Rocky movies?
A: Italian Stallion
Q: In 1788, Tuscan-born Filippo Mazzei (Philip Mazzei) wrote the four volume work, Studies of the Historical and Political Origins of the United States of North America. In addition, the Declaration of Independence incorporated what profound position of Mazzei that was quoted in 1774 in the Virginia Gazette?
A: "All men are by nature equally free and independent". Friend Thomas Jefferson modified this phrase to become "All men are created equal".
Q: What do William Paca and Caesar Rodney, both of Italian heritage, have in common? (Hint: 18th century colonial America)
A: Both were members of the American Continental Congress that signed the Declaration of Independence
Q: Which Italian American was the youngest semi-finalist winner at the French Open and the youngest to win a match at Wimbledon?
A: Jennifer Caprioti, born 1976
Q: This large money-center bank, formally named the Bank of Italy, was established by Amadeo Pietro Giannini, the son of Genoese immigrants. This bank was the largest commercial bank in the world during the 1930s. Name this present-day bank.
A: Bank of America
Q: Gaetano Lanza, born in 1848 in the United States to Sicilian immigrants, developed the first wind tunnel in 1909 and founded the engineering department at arguably the most prestigious technological university in the world. Name this university, the place where he taught for 36 years.
A: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Q: Who became the second Italian American to serve on the United States Supreme Court?
A: Samuel Alito
Q: Of the four mega popular Italian American singers of the 20th century - Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennet and Perry Como - who produced the most hit songs?
A: Dean Martin
Q: Florence is the capital of which Italian region?
A: Tuscany
Q: The city of Trieste lies in the northeastern part of Italy. Name the country that practically surrounds the city.
A: Slovenia
Q: What is the name of the beautiful gardens in Florence near Forte di Belvedere?
A: Boboli Gardens
Q: What straight divides Sicily from Calabria and the rest of Italy?
A: Straight of Messina (Streeto di Messina)
Q: This town is said to contain the actual ancient house of the Virgin Mary, transported here in 1294 from Nazareth. Name this town.
A: Loreto
Q: The tomb of the great writer Dante is located in a city on the Adriatic. To honor him, the area around his tomb observes silence. In which city is his tomb located?
A: Ravenna
Q: Which famous animals are named after the northern town of Lippiza?
A: Lipizzaner horses
Q: Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) is a popular tourist destination for Italians during the summer. Where is this destination hotspot located?
A: Sardinia, specifically the northeast coast
Q: During World War II, what significant historical Italian monument was nearly destroyed by the U.S. Army due to the potential threat from snipers?
A: Leaning Tower of Pisa
Q: Which Italian city is known for its craft in making glass, including blown glass?
A: Venice
Q: This town was originally built on Mount Subasio and was home to Saint Francis. Name this town.
A: Assisi
Q: This city, founded as a safe haven for people fleeing barbarians after the fall of Rome, is known for its renowned canals and 118 tiny islets. Name this city.
A: Venice
Q: How many Italian cities have populations of over one million and which cities are they?
A: Four - Rome, Milan, Naples and Turin
Q: What is the largest metropolitan area by population in Italy?
A: Milan
Q: What are the Dolomites?
A: Mountain chain in northern Italy primarily spanning the Trentino-Alto Adige region
Q: Along with the town of Pompeii, this town was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Name this town.
A: Herculaneum. Resina now sits utop the buried town.
Q: This opera house, perhaps the world's greatest theater, opened in Milan in 1778 and can accommodate 2,800 people. Name this opera house.
A: La Scala
Q: This town in Sicily is known for the exquisite Roman Villa Imperiale, built by Emperor Maximinianus. Name this town.
A: Piazza Armerina
Q: This city, founded as Tergeste by the Celts, is the largest port city on the Adriatic Sea. Name this city.
A: Trieste