Italy contains more than just art, pasta, and ancient ruins. Italy is comprised of a complex political apparatus, justice systems, public institutions, and an enormous global relevance. Here, I have created 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) about Italy, which cover topics such as government, geography, and facts that most people don’t know exist. These are excellent Italy quiz questions for the purpose of students, travelers, competitive exams, or anyone just curious about learning about the Italian Republic systematically and interactively.
Key MCQs about Italy
1. What is the name of the upper house of the Italian Parliament?
A. Chamber of Deputies
B. Senate of the Republic
C. Federal Assembly
D. National Council
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Details: Italy has a bicameral Parliament with the Senate (Senato della Repubblica) serving as the upper house.
2. Who is considered the founding father of the Italian Republic?
A. Benito Mussolini
B. Giuseppe Garibaldi
C. Alcide De Gasperi
D. Silvio Berlusconi
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Details: Alcide De Gasperi was a key leader in post-WWII Italy and is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the Republic.
3. What is the minimum voting age in Italy?
A. 16
B. 18
C. 21
D. 25
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Details: Citizens in Italy can vote from the age of 18 in general elections.
4. When did Italy become a Republic?
A. 1861
B. 1922
C. 1946
D. 1950
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Details: Italy officially became a Republic on June 2, 1946, after a referendum abolished the monarchy.
5. What is the name of the official residence of the Italian President?
A. Palazzo Madama
B. Palazzo Vecchio
C. Palazzo Chigi
D. Quirinal Palace
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Details: The Quirinal Palace in Rome is the official residence of the President of Italy.
6. How many regions does Italy have?
A. 18
B. 20
C. 21
D. 25
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Details: Italy consists of 20 administrative regions, 5 of which have special autonomous status.
7. Which Italian region is not connected to the mainland?
A. Lazio
B. Lombardy
C. Sicily
D. Tuscany
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Details: Sicily is an island and the largest region in Italy by area, located off the southern tip of the mainland.
8. What is the role of the Constitutional Court in Italy?
A. Making laws
B. Defending borders
C. Overseeing elections
D. Ensuring laws comply with the Constitution
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Details: Italy’s Constitutional Court reviews laws to ensure they conform to the Italian Constitution.
9. What type of electoral system does Italy use for its Parliament?
A. Proportional Representation
B. First-Past-The-Post
C. Mixed Electoral System
D. Ranked Choice
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Details: Italy uses a mixed system combining proportional representation and majority voting for its parliamentary elections.
10. Who appoints the Prime Minister of Italy?
A. The Senate
B. The President
C. The Public
D. The European Union
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Details: The President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister, typically the leader of the majority coalition.
1. What is the name of the upper house of the Italian Parliament?
A. Chamber of Deputies
B. Senate of the Republic
C. Federal Assembly
D. National Council
➥ Show Answer
Details: Italy has a bicameral Parliament with the Senate (Senato della Repubblica) serving as the upper house.
2. Who is considered the founding father of the Italian Republic?
A. Benito Mussolini
B. Giuseppe Garibaldi
C. Alcide De Gasperi
D. Silvio Berlusconi
➥ Show Answer
Details: Alcide De Gasperi was a key leader in post-WWII Italy and is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the Republic.
3. What is the minimum voting age in Italy?
A. 16
B. 18
C. 21
D. 25
➥ Show Answer
Details: Citizens in Italy can vote from the age of 18 in general elections.
4. When did Italy become a Republic?
A. 1861
B. 1922
C. 1946
D. 1950
➥ Show Answer
Details: Italy officially became a Republic on June 2, 1946, after a referendum abolished the monarchy.
5. What is the name of the official residence of the Italian President?
A. Palazzo Madama
B. Palazzo Vecchio
C. Palazzo Chigi
D. Quirinal Palace
➥ Show Answer
Details: The Quirinal Palace in Rome is the official residence of the President of Italy.
6. How many regions does Italy have?
A. 18
B. 20
C. 21
D. 25
➥ Show Answer
Details: Italy consists of 20 administrative regions, 5 of which have special autonomous status.
7. Which Italian region is not connected to the mainland?
A. Lazio
B. Lombardy
C. Sicily
D. Tuscany
➥ Show Answer
Details: Sicily is an island and the largest region in Italy by area, located off the southern tip of the mainland.
8. What is the role of the Constitutional Court in Italy?
A. Making laws
B. Defending borders
C. Overseeing elections
D. Ensuring laws comply with the Constitution
➥ Show Answer
Details: Italy’s Constitutional Court reviews laws to ensure they conform to the Italian Constitution.
9. What type of electoral system does Italy use for its Parliament?
A. Proportional Representation
B. First-Past-The-Post
C. Mixed Electoral System
D. Ranked Choice
➥ Show Answer
Details: Italy uses a mixed system combining proportional representation and majority voting for its parliamentary elections.
10. Who appoints the Prime Minister of Italy?
A. The Senate
B. The President
C. The Public
D. The European Union
➥ Show Answer
Details: The President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister, typically the leader of the majority coalition.
21. Which Italian city hosts the headquarters of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)?
A. Milan
B. Rome
C. Naples
D. Venice
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Details: The FAO, a major UN agency, is headquartered in Rome, Italy, focusing on global food security.
22. What is Italy’s highest court of appeal?
A. Constitutional Court
B. Supreme Court of Cassation
C. Court of Rome
D. Federal Tribunal
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Details: The Supreme Court of Cassation (Corte di Cassazione) is Italy’s highest court for civil and criminal matters.
23. What is the Italian Parliament composed of?
A. Senate and Cabinet
B. National Assembly and Council
C. Chamber of Deputies and Senate
D. House of Commons and Senate
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Details: Italy has a bicameral legislature made up of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic.
24. Which Italian scientist’s home is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
A. Marconi
B. Da Vinci
C. Galileo
D. Fermi
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Details: Leonardo da Vinci’s birthplace in Vinci, Tuscany, is preserved and recognized as a UNESCO heritage site.
25. What is Italy’s primary intelligence agency?
A. SISDE
B. AISE
C. DIGOS
D. ISI
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Details: AISE (Agenzia Informazioni e Sicurezza Esterna) is Italy’s foreign intelligence agency.
26. Who has the authority to dissolve the Italian Parliament?
A. Prime Minister
B. Speaker of the House
C. President of the Republic
D. Senate Leader
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Details: The President of Italy has the constitutional authority to dissolve Parliament under specific conditions.
27. Which part of Italy has the highest level of autonomy?
A. Lazio
B. Veneto
C. Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
D. Lombardy
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Details: This region enjoys the most autonomy due to its unique cultural and linguistic identity.
28. Which political movement led the unification of Italy in the 19th century?
A. Fascist Party
B. Christian Democrats
C. Risorgimento
D. Red Brigades
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Details: The Risorgimento was a nationalist movement that resulted in the unification of Italy in 1861.
29. What is Italy’s stance in the EU regarding deficit rules?
A. Strict enforcer
B. Often seeks flexibility
C. Non-compliant
D. Neutral
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Details: Italy frequently negotiates with the EU for flexible application of economic deficit rules due to its debt.
30. What does the Italian Senate require for a government confidence vote?
A. Two-thirds majority
B. Absolute majority
C. 50% of voters
D. Presidential signature
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Details: To pass a confidence vote, an absolute majority of the Italian Senate is required.
31. What is the name of Italy’s official government gazette?
A. La Stampa
B. Il Giornale
C. Gazzetta Ufficiale
D. Repubblica Notizie
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Details: The Gazzetta Ufficiale publishes all new laws, decrees, and official decisions in Italy.
32. Which Italian city is famous for being the birthplace of opera?
A. Rome
B. Venice
C. Florence
D. Naples
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Details: Naples is considered the birthplace of modern opera, especially in the 17th century.
33. What is the role of the Italian “Corte dei Conti”?
A. Electoral monitoring
B. Military court
C. Supreme Court
D. Audit and financial oversight
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Details: The Corte dei Conti ensures public funds are used legally and efficiently in Italy.
34. Which Italian region is legally bilingual (Italian and French)?
A. Veneto
B. Aosta Valley
C. Liguria
D. Umbria
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Details: Aosta Valley officially recognizes both Italian and French due to historical and linguistic ties.
35. Who appoints Italy’s Prime Minister?
A. Parliament
B. President of the Republic
C. Senate
D. Chamber of Deputies
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Details: The President appoints the Prime Minister, usually based on parliamentary majority support.
36. What is Italy’s national police force called?
A. Guardia Nazionale
B. Polizia di Stato
C. Carabinieri
D. Esercito
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Details: The Polizia di Stato is the primary civilian police force responsible for law and order.
37. Which institution manages Italy’s public broadcasting?
A. Italia TV
B. Mediaset
C. RAI
D. RTI
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Details: RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana) is Italy’s national public broadcasting company.
38. When did Italy abolish its monarchy and become a republic?
A. 1922
B. 1943
C. 1946
D. 1951
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Details: Italy officially became a republic following a referendum in 1946, ending the monarchy.
39. What is the minimum age to run for the Italian Senate?
A. 25
B. 30
C. 35
D. 40
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Details: Italian citizens must be at least 40 years old to be eligible for election to the Senate.
40. What is the Italian law-making body called?
A. Council of Ministers
B. The Assembly
C. Parlamento Italiano
D. National Congress
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Details: Italy’s legislative authority is exercised by the Italian Parliament (Parlamento Italiano), composed of two houses.
41. What is the Italian “Senato della Repubblica”?
A. Constitutional court
B. Upper house of Parliament
C. Executive council
D. National Election Commission
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Details: The Senato della Repubblica is the upper chamber of Italy’s Parliament, sharing lawmaking duties with the Chamber of Deputies.
42. What is Italy’s highest civilian award?
A. Medal of Valor
B. Italian Order of Merit
C. Order of the Republic
D. Star of Honor
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Details: The “Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana” is Italy’s highest civilian honor awarded by the President.
43. Which Italian city hosts the famous “La Scala” opera house?
A. Rome
B. Florence
C. Venice
D. Milan
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Details: Teatro alla Scala in Milan is one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world.
44. What is the name of Italy’s national anthem?
A. O Sole Mio
B. Fratelli d’Italia
C. Bella Ciao
D. Viva Italia
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Details: Also known as “Il Canto degli Italiani,” it became the official national anthem in 1946.
45. What is Italy’s constitutional court called?
A. Corte Costituzionale
B. Corte Suprema
C. Tribunale della Repubblica
D. Alta Corte
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Details: The Corte Costituzionale ensures Italian laws align with the Constitution.
46. In Italy, what is the function of the “Prefettura”?
A. Regional tax office
B. Electoral commission
C. Local administrative authority
D. Military registry
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Details: The Prefettura represents the national government in each province and handles public order and civil affairs.
47. What is the Italian equivalent of the Supreme Court?
A. Corte di Giustizia
B. Cassazione
C. Corte Superiore
D. Tribunale Supremo
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Details: The “Corte Suprema di Cassazione” is Italy’s highest court for civil and criminal cases.
48. Which treaty formally established the European Union and was signed in Italy?
A. Treaty of Versailles
B. Treaty of Maastricht
C. Treaty of Rome
D. Treaty of Florence
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Details: The Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957 in Italy, laying the foundation for the European Union.
49. What is the Italian institution responsible for national statistics?
A. StatItalia
B. ISTAT
C. DataIt
D. Census Bureau
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Details: ISTAT (Istituto Nazionale di Statistica) manages official statistical data collection and publication.
50. How many provinces are there in Italy?
A. 20
B. 58
C. 80
D. 107
➥ Show Answer
Details: Italy is administratively divided into 107 provinces within 20 regions, each with its local governance.
I hope these 50 multiple-choice questions about Italy have helped expand your understanding of this captivating European country. Whether it relates to Italy’s provinces or its constitution, iconic cultural sites or obscure administrative facts, we have provided you with questions to assist with e-learning and exam prep. Don’t forget to check out the other MCQs based on different countries, current affairs quizzes, and political trivia on our website. Continue studying, stay inquisitive, and learn the facts that matter.
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