History of pizza
The Ancient Origins
The history of pizza begins much earlier than you might imagine.
Already in ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome, flat flatbreads were prepared seasoned with herbs, spices and olive oil.
Ancient Egyptians celebrated the pharaoh's birthday with a flat bread topped with herbs.
Persian soldiers, on the other hand, baked a type of flat bread on their shields and covered it with cheese and dates.
The Birth of Modern Pizza
The real revolution in the history of pizza occurred in 1700, when tomatoes arrived in Europe from the Americas.
Initially considered poisonous by the European nobility, it was the Neapolitan peasants, driven by hunger, who dared to use them as a condiment on their flat breads.
Thus was born in Naples the "pizza", a cheap food sold on the street and consumed mainly by the lower classes.
The first Neapolitan pizza makers developed dough-making and cooking techniques that are the basis of modern pizza.
Margherita Pizza: A Real Story
In 1889, an event occurred that changed the history of pizza forever. Pizza chef Raffaele Esposito was invited to prepare his specialties for King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy who were visiting Naples.
For the occasion, Esposito created three different pizzas.
The Queen particularly appreciated the one with tomato, mozzarella and basil, whose colours recalled the Italian flag.
This pizza was named "Pizza Margherita" in her honor, and became the symbol of Italian pizza in the world.
The Worldwide Diffusion
The great Italian emigration between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century brought pizza overseas.
In 1905, Gennaro Lombardi opened the first pizzeria in the United States in New York City.
From there, pizza began its conquest of the world.
After World War II, American soldiers returning from Italy contributed to the popularity of pizza in the USA.
In the 1950s and 1960s, pizza became a mass phenomenon, with the opening of the first pizza chains.
Pizza Today: Tradition and Innovation
Today, pizza is one of the most loved and consumed foods in the world, with endless regional and creative variations.
Despite this global diffusion, the true Neapolitan pizza maintains its unique identity, so much so that in 2017 it was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Historical Curiosities
- The first pizzeria in the world, still in business, is the "Antica Pizzeria Porta'Alba" in Naples, founded in 1738.
- Until the 1940s, pizza was almost unknown in Northern Italy.
- The largest pizza in the world was made in Los Angeles by Pizza Hut: it measured 1,310.00 square meters.
- On average, each Italian consumes about 7.6 kg of pizza per year.
- Around 5 billion pizzas are consumed worldwide every year.
- Do you want to learn how to make a real Italian pizza like a master pizza chef?
Discover the whole history of Italian pizza
In our ebook "The Magical Art of Italian Pizza" you will find not only the complete history, but also authentic recipes and professional techniques for making real Italian pizza in a pizzeria or at home.
If you are interested in the paper version visit my sites:
Italian version: web https://lartemagicadellapizzaitaliana.jimdofree.com/
French version: https://lartmagiquedelapizzaitalienne.jimdofree.com/
English version: https://themagicalartofitalianpiz.jimdofree.com/