Venice Quiz

What is Venice built on?

• Wooden piles driven into the ground

• Sand islands

• Concrete platforms

• Natural rocks

Why don’t Venice’s wooden foundations rot?

• Because they are made of special concrete

• Because they are coated with waterproof paint

• Because they are submerged in oxygen-poor material

• Because they are made of stone

What is the name of the phenomenon causing Venice’s ground to sink?

• Geological subsidence

• Anthropogenic subsidence

• Karst sinking

• Sedimentary erosion

How were the historic squares (campi) of Venice originally paved?

• With large stone slabs (masegni) like today

• With grass or terracotta bricks (cotto)

• With wooden planks to prevent flooding

• With marble to reflect sunlight

What causes salt crystallization in the bricks of Venetian buildings?

• The use of low-quality clay in brick production

• The natural aging process of historical buildings

• Chemical reactions between rainwater and brick minerals

• The absorption of saltwater from the lagoon, which evaporates and leaves salt deposits

Which is one of the most famous wooden bridges in Venice that can still be seen today?

• Rialto Bridge

• Bridge of Sighs

• Accademia Bridge

• Calatrava Bridge

What is the function of the fondamenta in Venice?

• They are the city’s ancient defensive walls

• They are pedestrian walkways along canals

• They are the wooden pillars under the buildings

• They are underground tunnels for drainage

What makes Istrian stone, used in Venetian buildings, resistant to water damage?

• It absorbs water and expands to prevent erosion

• It contains a high amount of salt-resistant minerals

• It is very dense and non-porous

• It hardens when exposed to sea air

What are the main causes of acqua alta in Venice?

• Heavy rainfall in the Alps

• A combination of tides, winds, and atmospheric pressure

• Earthquakes shifting the lagoon floor

• Rising groundwater levels

Which famous Venetian square is most affected by acqua alta?

• Campo Santa Margherita

• Campo San Polo

• Piazza San Marco

• Campo Sant’Angelo